SCOTLAND

Legal Proceedings

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations that have received funding from his Department have brought legal proceedings against his Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether his Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases.

David Mundell: No organisation which received funding from the Scotland Office has brought legal proceeding against the Department in the last five years.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by his Department.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not procure imported liquefied eggs.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of food sourced by his Department was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office procures very few food products. In instructing caterers for events paid for by the Scotland Office, regard is given to whether the food was procured from UK food producers.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to ensure that it meets the Government’s buying standards for food and catering.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office procures very few food products. In instructing caterers for events paid for by the Scotland Office, regard is given to whether the caterers meet the Government’s buying standards for food and catering.

WALES

Personal Independence Payment

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations she has made to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of her planned replacement of disability living allowance with personal independence payments for claimants in Wales.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions about welfare reform including reform of disability living allowance.
	The Government are committed to supporting disabled people to lead independent lives. To achieve this we need to reform disability benefits to improve support for disabled people and to make the benefit more responsive to their needs. The personal independence payment will be more straightforward and help disabled people who face the greatest challenges to remain independent and lead full, active lives.

PRIME MINISTER

Manor Dean Cottage

Ian Austin: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he or (b) anyone acting on his behalf had discussions with (i) Lord Chadlington or (ii) anyone acting on his behalf about Manor Dean Cottage prior to its purchase.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my official spokesperson on 23 November 2011. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/morning-press-briefing-from-23-november-2011

Working Hours: EU Law

Denis MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on a UK opt-out from EU directives on working time; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I discuss a range of issues with European counterparts on a regular basis. The coalition agreement is clear that this Government will work to limit the application of the working time directive in the UK. We remain committed to the view that working people should be able to work the hours they choose. The UK has been clear to EU partners that any amendments to the working time directive must retain the opt-out for workers from the directive's working hours limit.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Freedom of Information

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, when information on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests was last included on the IPSA website; for what reason none have been added since then; how many FOI requests have been received since the website was last updated; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 28 November 2011
	As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about publication of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on the IPSA website.
	IPSA publishes a Freedom of Information disclosure log on its website providing full details of the requests and the responses provided. During the 2011/12 financial year there has been a lag in putting requests and answers on the website. Since early November, we have been putting this right and as of today's date (28 November 2011) all but four of the forty-nine requests for this financial year will be on the website. Hereafter, we plan to have completed answers on the website within two weeks of these answers being sent to the requestor.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to any imported liquefied eggs that are procured by the House of Commons catering service.

John Thurso: Whole eggs purchased by the House of Commons catering service are free range, British Lion Quality assured and date stamped. Liquid egg is produced in Belgium by a supplier whose eggs come from enriched cage supplies, in accordance with the European legislation on enriched cages which takes effect in 2012. There are no current plans to change these arrangements, but procurement practices are kept under constant review.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of food served in the House of Commons estate was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Thurso: The House is subject to the EU procurement regulations and so cannot discriminate in favour of or against the produce of any member state. Appointed suppliers are therefore not required as a matter of course to confirm the country of origin of food supplied to the House of Commons catering service and thus no record is kept of the country of origin of foods.
	However, periodic checks are made on the provenance of fresh meats and poultry supplies. An estimated 90% or more of beef, lamb, chicken and other poultry supplies is traceable to British producers and, in order to conform to higher welfare standards set out in purchasing specifications, all pork, bacon and sausages are supplied from British producers. All fresh eggs are free range, British Lion Quality assured.
	The proportion of fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from UK food producers varies according to seasonal availability, but menus are constantly reviewed to make best use of local, seasonal produce.

Times of Sittings

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the average operating cost is of the House of Commons on a sitting (a) Monday, (b) Tuesday, (c) Wednesday, (d) Thursday and (e) Friday.

John Thurso: Most of the House’s operating costs are fixed costs for salaries, ICT, accommodation and other facilities, and are only marginally affected by changes in the number of sitting days each year, the length of sittings or the specific weekdays on which these sittings are held. A meaningful average operating cost of a sitting on a particular weekday cannot therefore be calculated. The average marginal daily operating cost of a sitting, calculated as the sum that might on average be saved if there were not to be a sitting on any expected sitting day, or which might be incurred if there were an additional unplanned sitting, is around £20,000.
	The marginal cost associated with different daily sitting and rising times arises primarily from Hansard printing costs, which reflect the overall length of a sitting, and late-night transport and overtime payments for Chamber and security staff. When the House sits beyond 11 pm, as is common on Mondays and Tuesdays, there are average additional marginal costs of around £9,300 compared with those of a sitting which ends before 6 pm. When the House rises between 6 pm and 11 pm, as is common on Wednesdays and Thursdays, average additional marginal costs of £3,300 are incurred compared with those of a sitting which ends before 6 pm. Because Fridays are shorter sitting days, the average marginal cost of a Friday sitting is about £1,250 less than a sitting on another day which ends before 6 pm.
	All these figures are direct Chamber-related costs, and do not include the impact of different rising times on catering costs and income.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Bill of Rights

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on introducing a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights; if he will publish the letter he sent to party leaders in Northern Ireland on their views on a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: Our policy is that any legislation arising from the work of the Commission examining the case for a UK Bill of Rights would provide a vehicle in which to implement any rights specific to Northern Ireland if these can be agreed by the political parties there.
	The hon. Gentleman may be referring to a letter sent by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), to the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and others in early September about institutional changes. I have placed a copy in the Library.

Legal Proceedings

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations that have received funding from his Department have brought legal proceedings against his Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether his Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases.

Owen Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available for the years preceding the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010. Since that date no organisation receiving funding from my Department has brought legal proceedings against us.

Departmental Communication

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) the non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office currently has a small communications team made up of the Head of Communications, one Senior Information Officer and one Information Officer. The Senior Information Officer post is currently vacant and is due to be filled soon. There are no other communications officers within the Department.
	Of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission employs a Press and Public Affairs Officer.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible.

Owen Paterson: Neither my Department, nor the public bodies for which I am responsible, purchase liquefied eggs.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: My Department and the public bodies for which I am responsible, aim to promote Northern Ireland produce. All meat, fish and vegetables used by my Department are locally sourced where possible, depending on seasonal availability.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering.

Owen Paterson: All food and catering procurement by my Department, and the public bodies for which I am responsible is undertaken in line with Government's procurement policy and buying standards.

Foreign Relations: Republic of Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 16W, on foreign relations: Republic of Ireland, what subjects were discussed at his meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on 27 October 2011.

Owen Paterson: When the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), met officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on 27 October a wide range of issues was discussed, including economic conditions and north-south co-operation in a number of fields.

Postcodes

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail.

Owen Paterson: My Department does not use postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail.

TRANSPORT

A338: Repairs and Maintenance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the roadworks on the A338 will be completed.

Norman Baker: The A338 is a local authority road and is not maintained by central Government or the Highways Agency. Any questions relating to roadworks on it should be directed towards the relevant local highway authority—either Dorset county council or Bournemouth borough council, depending on exactly which section of the road is in question.

Aviation: Scotland

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland on Scottish air services.

Theresa Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has discussed Scottish air services with the Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), and the Government fully recognise the importance of air services between Scotland and the rest of the UK. It is the Government’s intention to develop an aviation policy framework which supports economic growth and seeks to create the right conditions for regional airports, and those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to flourish.
	The Government published a scoping document that asked a series of questions, including on regional airports, to stimulate discussion on aviation policy. The responses we have received to the scoping document will help to inform the development of a draft framework, which we intend to publish for full public consultation in March 2012.

Cycling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps her Department has taken to encourage more people to use bicycles.

Norman Baker: The Government made clear their support for cycling in their coalition agreement. On 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 88-94WS, I announced the allocation of £155.5 million to 37 authorities in England to deliver packages of measures that support economic growth and cut carbon emissions as part of the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund, and 38 out of the 39 successful bids included a cycling element. I will announce the remaining allocations for Tranche 2 and large projects in summer 2012. We are also committed to supporting Bikeability cycle training for the remainder of this Parliament, helping to give children the skills and confidence to cycle on today’s roads. In addition, I have established a cycling forum which will, among other things, be looking at barriers that prevent people taking up cycling. We want to get more people cycling, more safely, more often.

M27

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to (a) improving and (b) tolling the A/M27 road.

Michael Penning: I recognise the importance of the A27 Chichester bypass scheme, which was one of the 14 Highways Agency major schemes identified at the 2010 spending review for construction post 2015, subject to the outcome of statutory processes, value for money and affordability. There are no current plans to develop other major improvement schemes for the A27 or the M27 at this time.
	We are happy to look at schemes which would fund new capacity and improve the UK's road infrastructure through tolling—and would be willing to discuss any local proposals. However, we currently have no plans to toll the A27 or M27.

Manhole Covers

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to introduce composite manhole covers to reduce (a) the incidence of scrap metal theft and (b) the risk of injury to cyclists.

Norman Baker: holding answer 30 November 2011
	The majority of manhole covers on the highway network are the responsibility of utility companies, with a small percentage under the ownership of local highway authorities. As such it would not be the responsibility of the Department for Transport to introduce composite manhole covers.
	We are, however, aware that local authorities across England are experiencing an increased incidence of theft of metal drain-hole covers and iron railings. These thefts not only present a risk to public safety but are also causing authorities to divert funding from other services. Many authorities who have experienced the theft of manhole covers are now replacing these with covers which do not have any scrap value in order to prevent further thefts.
	More generally, the Department has worked with the Institute of Highways and Incorporated Engineers (IHIE) to develop Guidelines for Motorcycling. Section 6.3.16 of the guide encourages designers and maintenance engineers to ensure that covers should not be positioned in the carriageway so as to impose a hazard to motorcyclists. The guide may be viewed on the IHIE website at:
	www.motorcyclingguidelines.org.uk
	In addition, the British and European Standard (prEN124) on “gully tops and manhole tops for vehicular and pedestrian areas” has been going through revision. One of the areas being considered as part of this work is the in-service skid slip resistance of the covers. Consideration is also being given to an enhanced skid slip resistance value to improve consistency between the road surface and service covers placed in the highway.

Railways: Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the amount of investment rolling stock companies have made in the railway industry in each of the last 10 years. [R]

Theresa Villiers: The Government do not hold this information. However, the following table provides a rough estimate based on new passenger rolling stock procurement. This estimate will not reflect investment in the purchase of non-passenger rolling stock equipment and ongoing refurbishment of the owners vehicles. For more accurate information, the hon. Gentleman should please contact the rolling stock companies.
	
		
			 Rough estimate of investment for new vehicles 
			  £ million 
			 2001 720 
			 2002 870 
			 2003 320 
		
	
	
		
			 2004 130 
			 2005 235 
			 2006 385 
			 2007 305 
			 2008 490 
			 2009 160 
			 2010 55 
			 2011 0

Road Works

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to remove the requirement for Secretary of State approval of street works permit schemes under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Norman Baker: I propose to consult on this shortly.

TREASURY

Boilers: Government Assistance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he and his officials have had any discussions with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the re-introduction of a boiler scrappage scheme in the last six months.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury Ministers and officials frequently discuss a range of issues with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, including policies for energy efficiency and to address fuel poverty.

Capital Allowances

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2011, Official Report, column 621W, on capital allowances, for what reasons the information requested is not available.

David Gauke: The information is unavailable because HMRC's databases do not hold details on which industrial sector some businesses claiming capital allowances belong to and answering the question using data where industrial sector information for businesses is available would involve disproportionate costs.
	HMRC has published information about capital allowances due for companies for 2005-6 to 2009-10 for some industrial sectors at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11-10.pdf
	However capital allowances can also be claimed by unincorporated businesses assessed for income tax and equivalent information has not been published for them.
	Calculating the tax savings from capital allowances claims by businesses would involve disproportionate costs. This is because it would be necessary to work out the extent to which there would have otherwise been extra taxable profits for each business if the capital allowances had not been claimed and the extra amounts of tax that would have been payable on the extra taxable profits.

Capital Allowances

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2011, Official Report, column 621W, on capital allowances, what information his Department collects on the financial benefits companies receive due to manufacturing capital investment allowances.

David Gauke: HMRC has published information about capital allowances due for companies for 2005-6 to 2009-10 for some industrial sectors at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11-10.pdf
	Calculating the tax savings from capital allowances claims by companies in the manufacturing sector would involve disproportionate costs. This is because it would be necessary to work out the extent to which there would have otherwise been extra taxable profits for each company in the manufacturing sector if the capital allowances had not been claimed and the extra amounts of tax that would have been payable on the extra taxable profits.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury's current catering sub-contractor requires that its suppliers be accredited Assured Food Standards (AFS) and that monthly product ranges must include AFS red tractor certified products appropriate to the season.

Economic and Monetary Union

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of his Department's Euro Preparations Unit in each year from its inception to its closure.

Mark Hoban: The cost of the Euro Preparations Unit in each year since its inception is difficult to ascertain, since much of the expenditure has been grouped within other departmental costs. An estimate of spending in those years that separate data were available is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
			 2001-02 1,706,252.95 
			 2002-03 1,713,510.77 
			 2003-04 771,743.53 
			 2004-05 512,147.69 
			 2005-06 45,691.88 
			 2006-07 78,040.45 
			 2007-08 29,620.18 
			 2008-09 4,498.09 
			 Total 4,861,505.54

Public Sector: Pensions

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings to the public purse have arisen as a consequence of changing the indexation of public service pensions from the retail prices index to the consumer prices index; and how much of any such savings in the case of pensioners over the age of 70 years is due to the exclusion of the guaranteed minimum pension element of their pension in the indexation.

Danny Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 643-44W. This includes a table with an estimate of savings on unfunded public service pensions due to the decision to use the consumer prices index (CPI) as the Government's preferred measure for uprating the additional state pension and public service pensions.
	The indexation of guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs) in payment depends upon individual circumstances and can be paid by either public service schemes or through the state pension, or both. HM Treasury does not have the information to calculate the savings on public service pensions expenditure that specifically relate to the GMP elements of those pensions.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Affordable Warmth element of the Energy Company Obligation is included in the Control framework for Department of Energy and Climate Change levy-funded spending.

Chloe Smith: The control framework for DECC levy-funded spending covers DECC's policies that entail levy-funded spending and that are or likely to be classified by the Office of National Statistics as imputed taxation and public spending for national accounts purposes.
	If other DECC policies are classified as tax and spend then they will fall within the control framework. The Energy Company Obligation, or its Affordable Warmth Component, would be included if classified as such. Classification will take place in due course.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to delay the introduction of new rules for furnished holiday lettings beyond April 2012.

David Gauke: No. The changes to the rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) were legislated in the Finance Act 2011. The first changes took effect from April 2011 (removal of loss relief against general income) and there are further changes from April 2012 (increase in qualifying thresholds).

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters he has received on funding for civil society organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The figure in the format requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the following table shows the number of letters received from MPs on the subject of charities (also including voluntary and community groups and social enterprises). It excludes letters on issues relating to taxation.
	
		
			  Month Relevant items of correspondence 
			 2010 June 2 
			  July 2 
			  August 4 
			  September 1 
			  October 2 
			  November 1 
			  December 2 
			    
			 2011 January 10 
			  February 6 
			  March 5 
			  May 1 
			  July 2 
			  October 1

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new units of social housing were built or acquired by social landlords in Preston constituency in each of the last five years.

Andrew Stunell: Statistics on the number of additional affordable homes that were built or acquired by social landlords are not collected by constituency. Figures for Preston local authority are available on the Department's website in Live Table 1008 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/

Council Tax Benefits

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the new burdens doctrine will apply to council tax benefit successor schemes.

Bob Neill: In line with the new burdens doctrine, the Government will work with local authorities to assess the net impact on local government of localisation of support for council tax, including the transitional costs of moving to the new arrangements.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government incurred no design costs on (a) logos, (b) buildings and (d) stationery in 2010-11. The Department ran one advertising campaign—Fire Kills—that aimed to encourage people to test their smoke alarm regularly in order to prevent fatalities and injuries from fire in the home. The creative work associated with this, including all the advertising agency costs associated with the campaign, was £42,300.
	To assist the hon. Member's scrutiny of Whitehall spending, I would note that the previous Administration spent £22,000 of taxpayers' money on home information packs branding; £21,090 on Homebuy scheme branding; £15,000 on the branding the Sustainable Communities summit (subsequently cancelled); £10,000 on branding the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit quango; £25,000 on Community Builders branding; £7,260 on Code for Sustainable Homes branding; £33,400 on Cleaner Safer Greener Communities branding; £3,520 on re-branding Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services as the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser; £3,830 on a logo for the Department and Communities and Local Government followed by spending £24,765 on renaming it Communities and Local Government; and £1,371 on re-branding the ‘Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’ to the ‘Deputy Prime Minister's Office’.

G4S

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has awarded to G4S since May 2010; and what the (a) purpose, (b) monetary value and (c) net worth was of each such contract.

Bob Neill: The Department has not awarded any contracts to G4S since May 2010.

Housing

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were started in England in the 12 months to (a) September 2011 and (b) September 2010. [R]

Grant Shapps: Figures for new build housing starts in England since 1990 are published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website in Live Table 213 and can be found at the following link.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/

Housing

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the planning implications of total housing need at the upper and lower limits of the Office for National Statistics-projected population by 2050.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 59-60W.

Housing

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many housing starts on site there were in the London Borough of Southwark in the six months to September 2011;
	(2)  how many housing starts on site were delivered in Camberwell and Peckham constituency in the six months to September 2011.

Andrew Stunell: House building starts data for the London borough of Southwark, as reported to the Department for Communities and Local Government, are not available as the authority has not provided data returns for this period.
	Information is not available at parliamentary constituency level.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will provide resources to local authorities to compensate for rent loss from properties under the Right to Buy following the reform of the Housing Revenue Account.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 25 November 2011
	We are committed to ensuring that every additional home sold under right to buy is replaced by a new home, and receipts from sales will be recycled towards the cost of replacement. The receipt needed to fund replacement will only be a fraction of the cost of a new home. This is because most of the funding for new affordable rented homes comes from borrowing by the provider against the future rental income stream; and, in many cases, cross-subsidy from the landlord's own resources, including land.
	Our proposal is that right to buy receipts will first be used to meet debt on additional properties sold, then will meet Treasury and council forecast receipts, and that the balance will be available for investment in replacement properties. Our initial modelling shows that the expected receipts will provide a sufficient contribution to the cost of replacement homes. We will set out detailed proposals in the right to buy consultation.
	We are committed to letting councils keep the proportion of the receipt needed to cover the housing debt associated with additional right to buy sales. This will ensure that the right to buy reforms do not have an impact on the viability of self-financing or independent social landlords.

Housing Revenue Accounts: Southwark

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assumptions concerning the rental income of the London Borough of Southwark were used to calculate the final housing revenue account debt settlement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in the cost of rent for a two-bedroom council home in the London Borough of Southwark as a result of self-financing in 2012-13.

Andrew Stunell: There is no change to social rent policy as a result of self-financing. Self-financing valuations and settlement payments are based on the continuation of the social rent policy established by the previous Government in 2001. It assumes convergence of council rents and housing association rents in 2015-16, subject to a maximum annual rent rise for an individual tenant of the retail prices index + 0.5% + £2 per week.

Local Government Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2011, Official Report, column 440W, on urban areas: Government assistance, how much funding has been (a) applied for and (b) disbursed to local authorities in respect of (i) the £10 million Recovery Fund and (ii) the £20 million High Street Support scheme to date.

Bob Neill: holding answer 15 November 2011
	My Department was responsible for three funds that were set up in the immediate aftermath of the riots—the Homelessness Support scheme that helped those who were made homeless; the Recovery Fund, which covered the clean-up costs of local authorities; and the High Street Support scheme, which compensates councils for measures to help local businesses.
	Under these schemes, local councils have been in the lead in providing support to local firms and local residents. Central Government subsequently is reimbursing local councils for their costs retrospectively (in a similar way to how the Bellwin scheme has operated historically). As made clear when the schemes were launched, Central Government is not funding affected firms or residents directly.
	Homelessness Support scheme
	The closing date for the receipt of local authority claims for the Homelessness Support scheme was 30 November. So far the Department has received claims from four local authorities totalling over £100,000 which are still being assessed. Payments to local authorities will be made shortly.
	The Homelessness Support scheme met the immediate costs of re-housing those made homeless by the disturbances up to a maximum payment threshold of £5,000 per household, with discretion applied for exceptional costs. As an illustration, as at the end of September in Haringey, 54 properties were affected and 58 households were displaced as a result of the disturbances. All households made homeless who approached local authorities for assistance have been found alternative accommodation.
	DCLG is providing a further £35,000 for a dedicated support service in Haringey for the households who were displaced by disturbances. Those affected faced a particularly complex pattern of needs (housing, clothing, furniture, transport, psychological support).
	Recovery scheme
	The closing date for the receipt of local authority claims for the Recovery scheme was 7 November. Claims from 25 local authorities are currently being assessed. On 16 November, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), wrote to council leaders of the areas affected by disturbances, stating that, even though the deadline for submitting claims under this scheme had passed, he would be happy to accept claims until 23 November, as he was keen to ensure that councils are reimbursed for all expenses incurred as a result of disturbances. Over £500,000 has already been paid to local authorities from the Recovery Fund in the first batch of payments, and more will follow in the next few weeks.
	High Street Support scheme
	The deadline for claims to be submitted under the High Street Support scheme was extended to 31 January 2012, at the request of local authorities, to allow them to use funds to support local high streets in the run up to the busy Christmas and sales period. But, as examples:
	By 20 October, Haringey council had provided £165,000 in hardship grants to almost 100 local businesses. The council estimates that it may make a final claim of around £2 million to the High Street Support scheme.
	By 27 October, Croydon council had provided £249,000 in hardship grants to businesses and £137,000 in business rates hardship relief. These sums form part of the council’s £882,000 local investment so far through the High Street Support scheme. The council granted £1,000 to any business with a crime reference number, without the business having to ask for the grant. The police made direct contact with the council, which then made payment without the need of a formal claim to be made by the affected business.
	I understand Manchester has spent £181,000 under the High Street Support scheme on promotional activities in the riot-affected areas. These activities will aim to encourage Manchester residents to come to the city centre to shop, eat and socialise. As part of this, the council co-ordinated a very successful three-week “I love Manchester” campaign, which was grass-roots driven and became a symbol of the city’s resilience and message to the world that the people of Manchester are proud of their city and united against criminality and antisocial behaviour. 180 people registered to volunteer in the future.
	Salford council is investing £98,000 of its High Street Support scheme funding to boost pride in Salford city centre. Funding is being used to create a welcoming environment for shoppers by repairing damage and promoting the “Salford Open for Business” programme aimed at increasing footfall in Salford shopping city.
	Ealing council set aside a £250,000 fund to help areas affected by the riots. Small independent traders, which suffered damage from vandals and looters, have been given £1,200 to help them pay for things like new glazing and repairs.
	Wolverhampton council has funded £110,000 on security blinds; £45,000 on promotions for city centre (“700 reasons to shop in Wolverhampton” campaign—referring to its 700 shops). They have also supported radio coverage and competitions for independent traders.
	As outlined in the written ministerial statement today, we will also address any loss of New Homes Bonus in areas affected by last summer’s riots through riot recovery funds.
	I commend the recommendation of the Interim report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel that each local authority should identify an officer who can provide a knowledgeable single point of contact on financial recovery to local people and businesses affected by the riots.

Local Government Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect that the planned reform of business rate redistribution and local revenue fluctuations will have on local authority tax increment financing.

Bob Neill: Given that details of the local retention of business rates and tax increment financing have not been finalised, no quantitative assessment has been made of the interaction between the two.
	The Government's consultation on the local retention of business rates set out two broad options to enable the implementation of tax increment finance, along with the potential benefits and risks in relation to the wider local retention proposals. This consultation closed on 24 October.

Local Government: Procurement

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities and their finance departments on payment of suppliers.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Andrew Stephenson) on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 17W.

Non-Domestic Rates

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on social care provision of the Government's proposals for the localisation of National Non-Domestic Rates; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Our proposals for business rates retention will ensure a stable starting point so that no authority is worse off as a result of its business rates base at the outset of the new scheme. They also propose further protections to ensure councils can meet local needs, including a safety net for places in need of additional support, funded by a levy recovering a share of disproportionate gain. Our proposals will provide opportunities for authorities to benefit financially through delivering economic growth in their areas. We believe that our plans will give local councils new incentives to promote local economic growth, which will help grow the overall level of business rate receipts. We will set out the Government's response to its consultation on business rates retention shortly.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish in full the consultation responses his Department has received on the draft National Planning Policy Framework.

Greg Clark: As I set out in my written ministerial statement of 19 October, Official Report, column 65WS, having fully considered the suggestions made, the Government will then publish the revised text taking into account representations that have been made and a summary of responses to the consultation.

Planning Permission

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the contribution of the right hon. Lord Shutt of Greetland of 17 October 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 139-40, on the Localism Bill, when his Department plans to issue a revised version of Circular 03/09: Cost Awards in Appeals and Other Planning Proceedings; when he intends to consult on requiring departure applications to have compulsory pre-application consultation with the local community; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: holding answer 24 November 2011
	We are currently reviewing what changes will be needed to planning documents following commencement of the planning provisions in the Localism Act 2011.
	In addition, questions 4(a) and 4(b) to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework asked what light-touch guidance should accompany the new framework, and what organisations are best placed to provide it. We are now considering the responses to that consultation.

Rented Housing: Southwark

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the merits of taking steps to mitigate the effect of the level of the retail prices index on rent levels for local authority tenants in the London Borough of Southwark.

Andrew Stunell: No such assessment has been made in respect of the London borough of Southwark. Under existing social rent policy, to protect tenants from large annual rent rises there is a limit on actual rent increases for all individual local authority tenants of retail prices index inflation + 0.5% + £2. This rent policy was introduced under the previous Administration.

Social Rented Housing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to facilitate greater freedom for local housing authorities to set allocations and qualifications criteria for social housing in respect of (a) low-paid working families, (b) those with a strong local link and (c) those with a record of community activity; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 28 November 2011
	The Localism Act 2011 gives back to local authorities the freedom to manage their own housing waiting lists. Local authorities will be able to decide who should qualify for social housing in their area, and to develop solutions which make best use of limited stock. This would include disqualifying applicants who do not have a strong local link with the area, if the local authority chose to do so.
	Local authorities already have flexibility within the allocation legislation to include their own local policy priorities within their allocation scheme. We will shortly be publishing for consultation new statutory guidance to local authorities which encourages them to take advantage of this flexibility to give greater priority to families in low paid work or to those who otherwise contribute to their communities.

Travellers: Community Relations

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress his Department has made on developing a national strategy for Roma integration under the EU framework.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers my noble Friend, Baroness Hanham gave to the noble Lord Avebury on 14 June 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA177 and 24 October 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA116. We plan to publish later this year a progress report on the work of the Ministerial Working Group on Preventing and Tackling Inequalities Experienced by Gypsies and Travellers.

Travellers: Community Relations

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on developing a national Roma integration strategy.

Andrew Stunell: Ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government consulted the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on the UK's policy approach to negotiations for the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting on Roma inclusion, held on 19 May 2011. DCLG Ministers have had no further discussions on Roma integration with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Executive has responsibility for this issue in Northern Ireland.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Voluntary Work

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the merits of creating and developing skills banks in the arts sector to encourage finance and legal professionals to volunteer their services on an ad hoc basis.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England's plan for 2011-15 sets out key priorities including: promoting greater collaboration between organisations to increase efficiency and innovation; strengthening business models in the arts; and building a network of arts leaders who value sharing knowledge and skills.
	I have noted with interest models such as the Cranfield Trust, Orange's ‘Do Some Good’ initiative and Business in the Community's ‘Business Connectors’ programme, all of which contain principles which can be replicated in the arts.

Coroner For Treasure

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether his Department and the Ministry of Justice have discussed the sharing of administrative support by the Coroner for Treasure and the Chief Coroner; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Justice on the funding of the post of Coroner for Treasure; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: This Department discussed the funding of the post of Coroner for Treasure with the Ministry of Justice as part of implementation of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We considered various options to reduce the funding needed for the Coroner for Treasure post but were unable to secure funding for this post and informed interested parties of this on 17 November.
	This Department has not discussed with the Ministry of Justice the sharing of administrative support by the Coroner for Treasure and the Chief Coroner.

Coroner For Treasure

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many current treasure cases have been awaiting a verdict for over six months; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The British Museum, who act as the Secretariat to the Treasure Valuation Committee, and administer cases of potential Treasure reported to coroners, currently has 27 treasure cases that have been awaiting a coroner verdict for over six months.

Sports: Facilities

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) tennis facilities, (b) bowling facilities, (c) gymnasiums, sports halls and leisure centres, (d) swimming pools, (e) athletic stadiums and (f) ski slopes he estimates will be operational in (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England in each of the next four years.

Hugh Robertson: Neither the Department nor Sport England has collated this information. Sports and recreation facilities are delivered by local authorities, and any opening or closure of such a facility is a matter for the local authority concerned. However, there is national planning policy in place covering sports and recreation facilities. This policy looks to local council planning to protect such facilities needed by the local community. The National Planning Policy Framework will simplify the existing suite of planning policy documents and be localist in its approach. The draft framework, which was recently open to consultation, can be found at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolicyframework/

Telephones: Unsolicited Goods and Services

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to prevent unsolicited calls being made to people who have subscribed to the Telephone Preference Service.

Edward Vaizey: Telephone Preference Service (TPS) registered consumers are protected from unsolicited marketing calls through the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has enforcement responsibility for the TPS and considers complaints about breaches. In May, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) increased the ICO's powers in relation to the PECR, as part of revisions to the EU e-privacy directive enabling the ICO to issue a fine of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of the regulations. In addition, DCMS is discussing the effectiveness of the TPS with Ofcom, who are responsible for the contract, to ensure that consumers remain effectively protected and improvements are made where necessary.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Babar Ahmad

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Attorney-General whether the decision not to prosecute Babar Ahmad in the UK was made after the Crown Prosecution Service had seen all of the evidence obtained by (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) other authorities in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Grieve: A small number of documents seized by the Metropolitan police were submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice in 2004. The domestic prosecutor was asked to advise if any of these potentially fell within Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. On the material provided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. At the time this advice was given, domestic prosecutors were aware of the nature of the evidence in the possession of the US, but the entirety of the evidence was never subject to review in this country as it forms part of the case built by the US. The documents submitted to the CPS, even if they had amounted to an offence under Section 58, amounted to only a small fraction of the criminality alleged against Babar Ahmad by the US.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Green Deal

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Department has received on his proposals for implementation of the green deal.

Gregory Barker: Our proposals were formally launched in our consultation document on 23 November, and the consultation period will close on 18 January.
	It is therefore still an early point in the process, but we look forward to receiving responses over the coming weeks.

Durban Climate Change Conference

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress has been made on achieving an agreement on climate finance for the Durban climate change conference; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Huhne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell) today.

Domestic Energy Costs

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to assist households with their energy costs.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray) and for Telford (David Wright), today.

Climate Change: International Co-operation

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his priorities are for the international climate change negotiations.

Christopher Huhne: The Government are committed to making progress at Durban on climate finance, adaptation, forests, technology and measuring and reporting emissions. We want to make progress towards a single legally binding instrument which commits all major economies to binding targets and, recognising that the emissions reduction pledges on the table so far are collectively not ambitious enough, make progress in reaching a common understanding on the size of this gap and how we can close it.

Combined Heat and Power: EU Action

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential impact on renewables of providing priority grid access and dispatch for electricity produced from combined heat and power generators as proposed by the draft EU Energy Efficiency Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The current draft text of the Directive requires the provision of priority or guaranteed access to the grid of electricity from high efficiency cogeneration, and the provision of priority dispatch of electricity from high efficiency cogeneration subject to requirements relating to the maintenance of the reliability and safety of the grid. We do not believe that these proposals in the draft EU Energy Efficiency Directive should have an adverse impact on renewable generation.
	We already provide guaranteed access in Great Britain through a market-based approach for those large scale renewable and combined heat and power generating stations which are connected to the grid. As regards priority dispatch in Great Britain, we also have a market-based approach where dispatch depends on the generator meeting a market price. Where it is necessary to prevent access on occasion in order to ensure the reliability and safety of the grid system, our market arrangements determine which generator reduces its output, and these generators are compensated. It is usually most cost effective for conventional generation to reduce its output.

Electricity: Meters

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice to be published.

Charles Hendry: Electricity and gas suppliers have already developed a draft Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice, which they published for consultation in August 2011. They are now considering responses. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has consulted on the draft licence conditions that will formally underpin an industry Code, and will publish its response in the new year. The consultation proposed that energy suppliers should be required to submit a Code of Practice to the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) for approval within one month of the new licence conditions taking effect.

Energy Supply: Planning Permission

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he proposes that responsibility of energy-related planning applications will transfer from the Independent Planning Commission to Ministers.

Bob Neill: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), intends to commence the sections of the Localism Act 2011 in April 2012. From this point major infrastructure projects will be decided by democratically elected Ministers, within a clear policy framework provided by national policy statements, and on the basis of recommendations made by the new major infrastructure planning unit,

Energy: Billing

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Health the potential health effects on customers of an energy company failing to resolve its billing complaints within an acceptable timeframe.

Gregory Barker: The Government are fully aware of potential health impacts of those living in cold, damp homes which may arise if someone is unable to heat their home to an adequate standard. Officials in both Departments are in contact on this and continue to work on shared policies.

Energy: Housing

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce household energy demand.

Gregory Barker: Energy efficiency is key to managing demand. The Green Deal is set to transform the energy efficiency of British homes from 2012, and the roll-out of smart meters will help empower millions of customers to make informed choices about their energy use.

Energy: Meters

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement of 23 November 2011, Official Report, column 299, on annual energy statement, what assessment he has made of the effect on annual energy bills of the Government's smart metering roll-out programme.

Charles Hendry: We expect consumers to benefit from lower energy bills as a result of the smart meters rollout. This benefit is driven by consumers using energy more efficiently and by suppliers passing through net cost savings. For example, suppliers will be able to greatly reduce the number of premises they visit. We have assessed the price and bill impacts of the rollout for each year up to 2030; the updated impact assessment, published in August 2011, estimates that the smart meter rollout will reduce the average household electricity and gas bill by £22 in 2020 and by £42 in 2030.

Fuel Poverty

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of households in (a) Southend West constituency, (b) Essex and (c) England were in fuel poverty in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008 and (iv) 2009; what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures for (A) 2010, (B) 2011 and (C) 2012; what representations he has received on this issue since June 2011; from whom these representations were received; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Gregory Barker: DECC published data for 2006, 2008 and 2009 at local authority and parliamentary constituency level, and the number and proportions of households in fuel poverty are shown in the following table. For 2007 only a national figure is available.
	
		
			 Number and proportion of households in fuel poverty 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 
			  Number Proportion (%) Number Proportion (%) Number Proportion (%) Number Proportion (%) 
			 (a) Southend West 3,000 8 n/a n/a 5,000 12 7,000 1.8 
			 (b) Essex 59,000 9 n/a n/a 82,000 12 116,000 16 
			 (c) England 2,432,000 12 2,819,000 13 3,335,000 16 3,964,000 18 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	Projections are made two years in advance of the data, at a national level only. These show that around 4.0 million households are projected to be fuel poor in England in 2010 and 4.1 million households in 2011.
	Ministerial colleagues and I have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders to discuss fuel poverty.

Fuels: Prices

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average monthly fuel bill for a pensioner in receipt of pension credit guarantee credit in 2011.

Charles Hendry: Precise data on monthly fuel bills of pensioners in receipt of pension credit is not available. The Living Costs and Food survey, run by the Office for National Statistics, reports expenditure data for the year 2010 by age of household reference person. This suggests that average monthly household expenditure on electricity, gas and other fuels was as follows, based on the age of the household reference person:
	
		
			  £ 
			 50 to 64 102.30 
			 65 to 74 95.30 
			 75 and over 88.40

Green Deal Scheme

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the green deal on the existing market for energy efficiency products.

Gregory Barker: The green deal will open up the energy efficiency market to new sources of finance. Our assessment shows that the green deal could double the number of jobs in the insulation industry, supporting at least 65,000 jobs by 2015.
	Further detail can be found in the green deal impact assessment.

Green Deal Scheme

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what date he plans to announce the interest rate for green deal products.

Gregory Barker: Our approach to the green deal has been to establish a clear regulatory framework which will support the development of a private sector market in the provision and financing of energy efficiency measures. The interest rate for green deals will therefore be determined by the private sector market.

Green Deal Scheme

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Treasury on standardising the rate of VAT on products included in the green deal.

Gregory Barker: The Department has regular discussions with HM Treasury over a range of issues relating to the green deal.
	Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to the structural obligations and liabilities placed on builders by the green deal.

Gregory Barker: The green deal consultation document sets out our proposals for oversight and redress in relation to installers under the green deal. These were developed in close collaboration with the green deal Installer Fora which are composed of key industry trade bodies.

Heating Oil

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to promote competition in the heating oil distribution market.

Charles Hendry: Last winter, I asked the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to bring forward its Off-Grid Domestic Energy Market study. Published on 18 October 2011, the study concluded that competition in the heating oil sector is generally working well. It reported that most consumers had a good choice of four or more suppliers and that barriers to new market entrants are low in most areas. In areas where potential mergers have threatened competition, the OFT has sought divestments to maintain the pre-merger levels of competition. We remain vigilant to ensure that the heating fuels markets function effectively for consumers.

Nuclear Power Stations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total capital cost was of the UK's currently operational nuclear power plants; and what the average cost per MWh of the output was of these plants over their lifetime.

Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold data on the capital costs of existing nuclear power plants in the UK. Information on generation costs is a matter for the operators of the nuclear power stations.

Planning Permission

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what he proposes will happen to planning applications currently being processed by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) which remain uncompleted on the IPC's dissolution.

Bob Neill: I have been asked to reply.
	The Localism Act 2011 provides for the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission and the return of responsibility for taking decisions to democratically elected Ministers. Section 129 of the Act empowers the Secretary of State to make direction with regard to the handling of applications on or after the abolition date for the Infrastructure Planning Commission, and this power will be used to ensure applications transfer seamlessly on the day that the Infrastructure Planning Commission is abolished.

Postcodes

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail.

Gregory Barker: Information on the use of postcodes other than for the postage of mail is not held centrally within the Department. However it is known that postcodes are used by statisticians in the Department to allocate energy consumption, and associated emissions, to geographical areas.
	The results of this analysis are published as National and Official Statistics.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the reasons are for his decision to reduce the level of feed-in tariffs for aggregators on 31 March 2012.

Gregory Barker: The current consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) seeks views on a proposal for new multi-installation tariff rates for aggregated solar PV projects. This proposal is based on evidence from the comprehensive review of FITs which suggested that the economies of scale associated with aggregated projects mean that a lower tariff is needed to deliver the target rate of return of 5%. The consultation proposes that the multi-installation tariff rate would apply to all new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 1 April 2012. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 23 December 2011.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether contracts agreed and submitted prior to the 12 December 2011 deadline for feed-in tariff applications will be honoured at the rate of 43 pence per kilowatt hour.

Gregory Barker: Our consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) proposes that new tariffs will be implemented from 1 April 2012 but will apply to all new PV installations with an eligibility date on or after a proposed “reference date” of 12 December 2011. For the majority of solar PV installations, the eligibility date will be the date on which a valid application is received by the FITs licensee, normally the applicant's electricity supplier.
	The proposals are designed to strike a balance between the need for quick action and the desire to allow people an opportunity to finish work that is well underway. The proposed six-week period will allow many prospective generators who have made a financial commitment to installing PV (for example, paying a deposit) to do this. We will consider all representations made during the consultation, including those related to the proposed reference date.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the average annual income of a household in receipt of the feed-in tariff.

Gregory Barker: This information is not held by the Department.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Housing Revenue Account tenanted properties have feed-in tariff installations in each London borough.

Gregory Barker: This information is not held by the Department.
	However, as of 30 November, the Ofgem Central FITs Register shows a total of 3,250 installations in receipt of feed-in tariffs across all London boroughs.

Solar Power

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to encourage community projects and local authorities to make use of solar photovoltaics.

Gregory Barker: The latest consultation on feed-in tariffs states that the Government are considering whether more could be done to enable genuine community projects to benefit from FITs. The next consultation will also seek views on how we define community schemes.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the proposed new multi-installation tariff rates for aggregated solar photovoltaic schemes is set at 80% of the standard tariffs for individual installations.

Gregory Barker: The multi-installation tariff rates are based on evidence from the comprehensive review which suggested that the economies of scale associated with aggregated projects mean that a lower tariff is necessary to deliver the target rate of return of 5%. We have considered this evidence along with the possible impact of the proposed new requirements on energy efficiency on aggregated projects. On this basis, we consider that a multi-installation rate which is set at 80% of the proposed standard tariffs for individual installations is justified (where that would result in a tariff that is no lower than the marginal cost of renewables).

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he gave to the potential effects on (a) confidence in the solar industry and (b) investment in major future energy initiatives of his decision to reduce the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics from 12 December 2011.

Gregory Barker: The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV), available at
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	estimates that new solar PV installations will continue to come forward under the proposed changes to FITs for solar PV. The impact assessment does not estimate the specific impact of the proposed changes, or the potential new business opportunities arising from the consultation proposals on energy efficiency, on the UK solar industry.
	Current tariffs are providing returns well in excess of the around 5% that was intended when the FITs scheme was launched, and the proposed new tariffs are intended to ensure that returns go back to this level.
	As with all DECC policy proposals, we have taken into account their potential perception by industry and investors. Our commitment to delivering clarity and longevity is one of the reasons that we will be introducing the electricity market reform to provide investors with a stable and credible long-term policy framework to encourage investment.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the (a) Home Affairs and (b) Economic Affairs Cabinet sub-committees considered the effect on employment in the solar industry of a reduction in the feed-in tariff for new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 12 December 2011.

Gregory Barker: In line with the constitutional convention of collective decision-making, and section 2 of the Ministerial Code, the Government do not disclose details of the internal process through which decisions are taken.
	The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), who has responsibility for the feed-in tariff proposals, sits on both the Economic Affairs and Home Affairs Cabinet Committees, where a wide range of issues are discussed.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Housing Revenue Account tenanted properties have feed-in tariff solar photovoltaic installations in each London borough.

Gregory Barker: This information is not held by the Department.
	However, as of 30 November, the Ofgem Central FITs Register shows a total of 3,223 solar photovoltaic installations in receipt of feed-in tariffs across all London boroughs.

Wind Power

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made in implementing the Government's policy on wind farms.

Charles Hendry: The Renewable Energy Roadmap (published in July 2011) sets out a targeted plan of actions for eight key technologies, including onshore and offshore wind, in order to meet our 15% renewable energy target. The Roadmap includes illustrative “central ranges” for these key technologies and whilst they do not represent technology specific targets or the level of our ambition, they do show what could be deployed by 2020. We are making progress on the actions in the Roadmap to remove non-financial barriers—including reform of the planning system, and working with aviation and wind stakeholders to develop and implement mitigation of wind farm interference with aviation radar.
	The Government are committed to continuing support for wind technologies through the renewables obligation (RO) to help achieve our challenging deployment goals. On 20 October, DECC published a consultation on proposals for RO support levels for large-scale renewable electricity generation, including from onshore and offshore wind, for the period 2013-17(1). We are targeting support at the most cost effective of these technologies, and in the case of onshore wind farms in particular, a proposed 10% reduction in the level of support aims to deter poorly sited projects. The RO proposals will help secure billions of pounds of private sector investment in the UK economy.
	Good progress has been made on deployment—we currently have 4 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity in operation and the existing pipeline contains an additional 11GW. When taken together, this would contribute a significant proportion of the central range for onshore wind deployment by 2020.
	In addition, the UK is the world leader for offshore wind power, with over 1.5GW installed capacity, around 4GW post-consent and some 2GW in the planning system demonstrating that good progress is being made towards meeting our central projections for this technology.
	(1 )http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_ review/cons_ro_review.aspx

JUSTICE

Free Schools: Planning Permission

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which Department would receive any income arising from free schools being established at (a) Balham youth court, (b) Haringey magistrates court, (c) Mid-Sussex magistrates court and (d) Sutton Coldfield magistrates court;
	(2)  whether (a) Balham Youth Court, (b) Haringey magistrates court, (c) Mid-Sussex magistrates court and (d) Sutton Coldfield magistrates court will be available for (i) sale, (ii) rent or (iii) free as potential sites for free schools.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice would receive a capital receipt if the sales of (a) Balham youth court, (b) Haringey magistrates court, (c)Mid-Sussex magistrates court and (d) Sutton Coldfield magistrates court are completed. These courts are currently being offered for sale and the Ministry of Justice has agreed with the Department for Education that they may offer them as potential sites for free schools.

HM Prison Birmingham: Pensions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the costs of pensions were added to the public sector bid in respect of the recent tendering process for HM Prison Birmingham.

Crispin Blunt: Yes, the costs of providing pensions were added to the public sector bid.

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many foreign national offenders who have been (a) subject to proceedings for being an illegal immigrant or (b) seeking asylum have (i) received criminal convictions and (ii) been in receipt of a custodial sentence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many foreign national offenders who have been (a) subject to proceedings for being an illegal immigrant or (b) seeking asylum have been convicted of (i) a violent offence and (ii) a sexual offence in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the circumstances of each case. It is therefore not possible to identify from these centrally held data whether the offender was a foreign national, has been subject to proceedings for being an illegal immigrant, or has been seeking asylum.

Prisoners’ Release: Lie Detectors

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many sex offenders have had a polygraph condition imposed as part of their release licence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many released offenders have undergone a polygraph session as a result of the polygraph pilot; and how many polygraph sessions have taken place in each month that the pilot has been operational.

Crispin Blunt: Sections 28 to 30 of the Offender Management Act 2007 (the 2007 Act) enabled a pilot of mandatory polygraph testing to take place covering offenders released on licence to addresses in the east and west midlands regions, after serving prison sentences of 12 months or more for committing specified sexual offences. The pilot began in January 2009 and ended October 2011. During this period, 650 sexual offenders were released with a licence condition requiring them to undertake polygraph testing.
	599 of the 650 attended at least one polygraph session during this period, the first test being scheduled 10-12 weeks after release. A polygraph session was scheduled at not less than every six months for the duration of the licence and pilot.
	The following table provides details of the testing figures for the first two financial years of the pilot and for the year to October 2011 when testing ended. During this period, 1,290 polygraph sessions took place.
	The discrepancy between offenders released with a polygraph condition (650) and those attending at least one session (599) are accounted for, in the main, by the offender being recalled before their scheduled first test.
	
		
			 Period Number of tests 
			 2009-10 346 
			 2010-11 608 
			 April-October 2011 336 
			 Total 1,290 
		
	
	The results of the pilot are now subject to evaluation, with a view to determining whether mandatory polygraph testing is a useful additional tool in the risk management of sexual offenders. In accordance with the provisions in the 2007 Act, an affirmative resolution of each House of Parliament would be needed before mandatory polygraph testing could be extended to sexual offenders released on licence throughout England and Wales.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison officers have been stabbed during the course of their duties in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) do not record data in the requested form. However, NOMS do record and publish statistics on assaults on staff which include assaults on prison officers. The statistics show the number of incidents in which staff have been involved, but do not include the number of individual injuries received by staff or the treatment they received. They do include figures for assaults by type of injury received. Figures for staff and prisoner injuries have been collated in the statistics.
	The National Offender Management Service publishes annual Safety in Custody statistics on the Ministry of Justice website. Statistics on prisoner on officer assault incidents for 2001 to 2010 can be found at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/safety-in-custody.htm

Prisons: Private Sector

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who bears the cost of the private sector mobilisation process prior to the assumption of responsibility for operation of a prison by a private sector provider.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice bears the cost of mobilisation and transition. However, the costs are assimilated in the contract price. The costs of mobilisation and transition are not paid until after full commencement of the services.

Probation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) the full list of probation functions and (b) the list of core probation services is; and which of these have been subjected to marketisation.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows.
	(a) The full list of probation functions is covered by the following service specifications, published as part of the NOMS Directory of Services at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/noms/noms-directory-of-services-and-specifications.htm
	Bail accommodation service
	Bail services
	Court work other than assessments and reports
	Victim liaison
	Approved premises—Public protection and regimes
	Approved premises—Catering and domestic arrangements
	Assessment and reports pre-sentence
	Manage the sentence for a community order or suspended sentence order
	Manage the custodial sentence—Manage the sentence pre and post release from custody
	Manage the custodial sentence—Deliver supervision on licence
	Deliver supervision requirement
	Deliver accredited programmes
	Deliver curfew requirement
	Support delivery of alcohol treatment requirement
	Support delivery of drug rehabilitation requirement
	Support delivery of mental health treatment requirement
	Deliver residence requirement
	Deliver prohibited activity requirement
	Deliver exclusion requirement
	Deliver senior attendance centre requirement
	Rehabilitation services—In the community
	Rehabilitation services—Deliver activity requirement
	Unpaid work/Community payback
	(b) There is currently no official list of ‘core probation services.' The Government will consider this as part of the ongoing probation review.
	Bail Accommodation and Support Service and Community Payback are currently the only probation functions that have been, or are being, put to competition on a national basis by NOMS. NOMS does not keep records of competitive activity undertaken by probation trusts.
	The probation review announced on 13 July 2011 is developing options for probation reform. All the options being considered include scope for a much greater level of competition in probation services. We plan to consult on our proposals in the new year.

Reoffenders: Alternatives to Prosecution

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders subject to out-of-court disposals had previous criminal convictions in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following table shows the number of offenders receiving a reprimand, warning or caution, in England and Wales in the years 2006 to 2010, by the number of previous convictions. Figures for the previous criminal histories for offenders receiving other types of out-of-court disposal are not available.
	These figures relate to separate cautioning occasions; where an offender was cautioned on the same occasion for several offences that occasion has been counted once in the table. These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Offenders receiving a reprimand, warning or caution by number of previous convictions and year— England and Wales 
			 Number of offenders 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 0 279,148 284,759 252,547 218,566 182,325 
			 1-2 41,244 45,931 45,081 41,197 37,062 
			 3-6 22,811 24,976 24,794 22,471 20,002 
			 7-10 8,714 9,491 9,549 8,392 7,592 
			 11-14 4,458 4,993 4,886 4,471 3,977 
			 15+ 6,404 7,269 7,500 6,766 5,976 
			 Total 362,779 377,419 344,357 301,863 256,934 
			 Note: These figures cover offenders cautioned for indictable offences and certain summary offences that are recorded by the police (they exclude a range of less serious summary offences such as television licence evasion, speeding and vehicle tax offences).

Suicide: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the age of victims of suicide in Pendle constituency in the last 10 years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information requested is not held centrally. Coroners make annual returns on their verdicts, including suicide verdicts, but this information does not contain the level of detail requested. The Coroner for East Lancashire has provided details in the following table of the number of suicide verdicts in his district over the last 10 years but to obtain the address and age of the deceased would be at disproportionate cost as every suicide verdict would have to be interrogated.
	
		
			  Suicide verdicts for East Lancashire coroner district  (number) 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 13 
			 2003 18 
			 2004 18 
			 2005 22 
			 2006 15 
			 2007 15 
			 2008 20 
			 2009 27 
			 2010 14

Youth Custody

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the under-18 secure estate capacity in England and Wales was in each year between 1996-97 and 2010-11.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the average number of beds commissioned in each sector of the juvenile secure estate in each year from 2000-01 to 2010-11 together with the total number for each year.
	These data are from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and refer to secure training centres (STCs), secure children's homes (SCHs) and places commissioned by the YJB in young offender institutions (YOIs). 2000-01 is the earliest date from which data are available that gives information on all secure establishments in the youth estate for this age group.
	The YJB monitors population levels and adjusts the numbers of beds it commissions accordingly. As a result decommissioning activity will often follow decreases in the number of under 18s in secure accommodation. The Government published their Secure Estate Strategy consultation on 19 July 2011. The consultation closed on 11 October 2011 and the Youth Justice Board is now carefully considering the responses received. The strategy proposes to reduce the number of beds commissioned across the secure estate in order to ensure supply meets demand. The new strategy is an opportunity to reconfigure the estate to improve provision and better meet young people's needs.
	
		
			  Secure children's homes Secure training centres Places commissioned in young offender institutions Total 
			 2000-01 262 130 2,868 3,260 
			 2001-02 262 130 2,981 3,373

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Audit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many internal audits have taken place (a) in his Department and (b) in the non-departmental bodies for which his Department is responsible in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Department for Communities and Local Government Internal Audit is contracted to provide the internal audit service for the Cabinet Office and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
	During the period November 2010 to November 2011, Internal Audit has undertaken 30 audits. This figure includes four audits undertaken in the National School of Government (NSG) which since 1 April 2011 has been part of the Cabinet Office.
	The following audits have been undertaken in the NDPBs:
	Civil Service Commission (NDPB—created November 2011): one audit
	Capacitybuilders (NDPB—ceased to exist April 2011): four audits
	Commission for the Compact (NDPB—ceased to exist April 2011): one audit.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs served on the Downing street estate.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	The standards for animal welfare for whole eggs and imported liquefied eggs are set out in the Government Buying Standards on Food and Catering at:
	http://sd.defra.gov.uk/advice/public/buying/products/food/
	These are mandatory for central Government and their Executive agencies.
	Information in relation to the Cabinet Office's commitment to the Government Buying Standards on Food and Catering can be found on its website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/food-procurement-reporting

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of food served on the Downing street estate was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	Information for 2010-11 on the proportion of food procured by the Department and public bodies, which was produced to UK production standards or equivalent, can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/food-procurement-reporting
	Information for 2011-12 will be published after April 2012.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that all food served on the Downing street estate meets the Government's buying standards for food and catering.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	Information in relation to the Government Buying Standards published in June 2011 about sourcing food, subject to no overall increase in costs, meeting UK or equivalent standards of production can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/food-procurement-reporting

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which objectives for the Work Programme the Transparency Indicators announced in the Open Service White Paper will show as being met or not met.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	In line with the Business Plan reporting requirement, performance data on the Work programme will be published on the Department's Business Plan Transparency webpage as the data become available. In addition, performance against the first indicator will be included as part of the Quarterly Data Summary reporting process.
	The Department will publish performance data on the following Work programme indicators:
	the proportion of participants who have achieved a Job Outcome payment at 12 months on the programme (to be published quarterly from November 2012);
	proportion of customers who have achieved a Job Outcome payment at 24 months on the programme (to be published quarterly from November 2013);
	the average cost per Job Outcome for participants who have been on the programme for 24 months (to be published quarterly from November 2013); and
	the average benefit savings for individuals who have been on the programme for 24 months (to be published quarterly from February 2014).
	The data will also be published on the No. 10 website.

Procurement

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to procurement policy Action Note 3/11, whether his Department has considered the value of the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory principles in relation to licensing.

Francis Maude: Following the outcome of the UK Government Open Standards Survey, a public consultation will begin early in 2012 regarding open standards in Government IT. Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) principles will be considered as part of this consultation.

Personal Income: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum household income was in each (i) ward and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Liverpool in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum household income was in each (i) ward and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Liverpool in the most recent period for which figures are available. (84083)
	The information requested is not available.

Public Bodies

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what risk registers are held by his Department and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: holding answer 28 November 2011
	Within the Cabinet Office each business group is accountable for managing their own risks and are responsible for both maintaining their associated risk registers and for ensuring that their business plans and all projects, programmes or activities which deliver departmental strategic or corporate objectives, include the review of associated risks and that any mitigating actions are implemented.
	Risk registers are kept and maintained, as is appropriate, at working level. A list of all risk registers used within the Department and its NDPBs is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office also co-ordinate a number of cross-government risk assessments to identify and assess a range of risks for the UK. These inform wider cross-Government policy making, including contingency planning and national security.

Serco

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many contracts his Department has awarded to Serco since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each such contract.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office has not awarded any contract to Serco since May 2010.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare: Cattle

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many investigations into allegations of (a) acts of cruelty to cattle and (b) cattle being kept in conditions which neglect their welfare have been carried out in each region of England and Wales in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: As these are allegations, the investigation would be unplanned.
	(i) In 2010-11 52 investigations were carried out.
	(ii) From April 2011 to date, 22 investigations have been carried out.
	We are, however, unable to identify investigations by individual animal species, therefore these figures will not just apply to cattle.
	The following table shows routine planned welfare inspections carried out on cattle in each region of England and Wales.
	
		
			 Welfare inspections by region (cattle) 
			 Country Region 2010-11 April to October 2011 
			 England  3,744 1,738 
			  East Midlands 224 92 
			  North East 148 30 
			  North West 364 194 
			  South East 360 164 
			  South West 1,992 1,012 
			  West Midlands 384 131 
			  Yorks and Humber 272 115 
			 Wales  601 296 
			  North Wales 271 70 
			  South Wales 329 226 
			 Notes: 1. Vetnet Codes: Beef—Breeding, Cattle—Growing, Dairy Cattle and Calves have been included in the data. 2. Data have been provided at an inspection level and includes all inspections carried out for cattle regardless of the inspection result. 3. Please be aware that multiple inspections can be carried out at a visit, e.g. a visit where dairy cattle and calves are inspected will be counted as two inspections. 4. You will note that the number of inspections has decreased from last year. This is due to inspections now being carried out on a risk basis.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cambridge of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 468W, on wild animals in circuses, from whom her Department has sought legal advice on the use of wild animals in circuses; and if she will place such advice in the Library.

James Paice: The Government have already indicated they wish to exercise their right to legal professional privilege in respect of this information, 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 240W. That position is unchanged.
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110621/text/110621w0004.htm#11062168000154

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities she expects to participate in enforcement of a licensing system on the use of wild animals in circuses.

James Paice: None. We expect the licensing scheme for wild animals in circuses to be enforced through inspections by DEFRA appointed inspectors.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 468, who has offered legal advice to her Department on the use of wild animals in circuses; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any such advice received by her Department.

James Paice: Since 23 June 2011, DEFRA has been sent legal advice by the RSPCA and was referred to an article in an online legal journal that can be found at:
	http://webjcli.ncl.ac.uk/2011/issue4/pdf/rook4.pdf
	The RSPCA advice has not been published and it may be subject to legal privilege. The release of this unpublished legal advice would need to be considered by the RSPCA.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on inclusion of welfare standards for all species of wild animal available for use in circuses around the world in any future licensing regime.

James Paice: In preparing proposals for licensing, the Government are considering what welfare standards should apply to all species, and which species have specific additional requirements. These will take into account international best practice.

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the criteria that would have to be met during the biodiversity offset pilot for the scheme to be rolled out further.

Richard Benyon: The biodiversity offsets pilots are being set up specifically in order to enable us to assess the effectiveness of the approach. The pilots will run for two years and there will be an independent evaluation of the process. A decision will then be made on whether, and if so how, to support greater use of offsetting across England.

Common Agricultural Policy

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to protect the farming industry in negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

James Paice: The European Commission's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals were formally released on 12 October 2011 and are currently being considered by member states in the Agriculture Council, as well as by the European Parliament for the first time, under co-decision.
	We will continue to negotiate hard in Agriculture Council for a fair outcome for UK farmers and taxpayers. It is important that the UK (and EU) agriculture industry is well positioned to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the future. We will therefore seek to ensure that a reformed CAP encourages the innovation, sustainable actions and market orientation that are essential to ensuring the long term competitiveness and resilience of the agriculture industry. The UK is also committed to fighting for a CAP that is significantly simpler overall for farmers, administrators and paying agencies.
	DEFRA Ministers are in regular discussions with EU ministerial colleagues over the reform of the CAP. We have also been discussing the potential consequences of the proposals for all parts of the UK with Ministers for the devolved Administrations.
	DEFRA will consult interested stakeholders in England to gather evidence and better understand how the Commission's proposals will affect different sectors of the industry. We will work closely with the devolved Administrations, who will also consult their stakeholders, and seek to influence the detail of the legislation so that it reflects conditions and needs across the UK.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any local authority staff have been injured by dangerous dogs in the course of their duties since June 2010.

James Paice: This information is not held centrally by DEFRA.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible.

James Paice: We will be making changes to the Government Buying Standards mandatory criteria which apply to fresh, in-shell eggs to ensure that eggs produced in conventional cages—an illegal production system across the EU after 2012—will not be used in any form whether this is fresh, powdered or liquid.

Farmers: Supermarkets

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on introducing minimum standards in contracts between dairy farmers and retailers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The EU Commission's proposals for new rules on contractual relations in the dairy sector would allow member states to decide whether to make written contracts compulsory for the delivery of raw milk from producers to processors of raw milk. There is no proposal to extend that to contracts with retailers.

Food Security

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for food security in 2050 of each extreme of the population range projection made by the Office for National Statistics for that year.

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the implications for food security in 2050 of each extreme of the population range projection made by the Office for National Statistics for that year;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of food security in 2050 at the upper and lower limits of the population range currently projected by the Office for National Statistics.

James Paice: The Office for National Statistics produce population projections for the UK based on a set of demographic assumptions. Their principal projection for the UK in 2050 is 78.4 million. Population projections become increasingly uncertain the further they are carried forward and the long-term figures should be treated with great caution.
	Our food security depends on access to the world market, and our domestic food industry needs to be able to compete on the world stage. In a world where climate instability can disrupt patterns of production, food security cannot be delivered from a narrow, self-interested, national protectionist stance, or by recommending self-sufficiency.
	Earlier this year the Government's Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington, published a Foresight report into the Future of Food and Farming which looked at the challenges today and in the future. It explored how we can feed a global population of 9 billion by 2050 healthily and sustainably and identified hunger and environmental degradation as the key problems we face. The Foresight world population figures are derived from United Nations projections.
	As an immediate response to the report, DEFRA have signed up to a Foresight Action Plan which will include:
	championing an integrated approach to food security;
	pressing for integration of agricultural GHGs into UNFCCC process;
	taking forward Nagoya work on international biodiversity;
	promoting the importance of sustainable intensification;
	pressing for trade liberalisation and CAP/CFP reform;
	showcasing what can be achieved on food waste reduction within the UK and share best practice; and
	increasing the productivity and competitiveness of UK food and farming and ensure that agriculture and the food sector can contribute fully to the green economy.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Business

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to implement section 85(1) of the Climate Change Act 2008 on the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

James Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Fiona O'Donnell), on 24 November 2011, Official Report, column 556W.

National Parks: Public Consultation

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to national park authorities of consulting with local communities on arrangements for local governance structures in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: No central estimate has been made. Each National Park Authority consulted as it judged appropriate and met the costs from its existing budget. Those budgets are largely financed by unhypothecated grants from DEFRA.

Timber

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make possession of illegally logged timber an offence across the supply chain; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: We are committed to eliminating illegal timber from the UK market. We will therefore put in place the necessary legislation to implement the provisions of the EU illegal timber regulation in the United Kingdom by 3 March 2013 in accordance with the provisions of the regulation. The regulation prohibits the first-placing of illegal timber on the EU market which will restrict its purchase, possession and sale down the supply chain. To ensure the traceability of timber products, those businesses trading in timber and timber products further down the supply chain will be obliged to keep records of their suppliers and customers. Implementation will include putting in place a robust and proportionate enforcement regime, including appropriate penalties.

DEFENCE

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 402W, whether any civil servants were present at the 2010 meeting between the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Matthew Gould.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 7 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Secretary’s report published on 18 October 2011.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 402W, whether any reports of the 2010 meeting between the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Matthew Gould were forwarded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Ministry of Defence did not send a report of the meeting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Adam Werritty

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department’s premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 7 November 2011
	I refer the right hon. Member to the Cabinet Secretary’s report published on 18 October 2011, and to the answer I gave on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 518W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of UK operations in Afghanistan was on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Philip Hammond: The net additional cost of military operations in Afghanistan, rounded to the nearest £10 million, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year £ million 
			 2001-02 220 
			 2002-03 310 
			 2003-04 50 
			 2004-05 70 
			 2005-06 200 
			 2006-07 740 
			 2007-08 1,500 
			 2008-09 2,620 
			 2009-10 3,820 
			 2010-11 3,770 
		
	
	Our estimate for the net additional cost of Afghanistan in the current financial year (2011-12) is £4,030 million.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether each nation participating in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan has access to the Afghan Mission Network.

Philip Hammond: An individual from any nation participating in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan is able, in principle, to access the Afghan Mission Network providing that they hold the correct security clearance.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 993W, on Air Force: military bases, what his Department's policy is on the taking of minutes of (a)  meetings and (b) telephone calls between the Secretary of State and First Ministers of the devolved Administrations.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 31 October 2011
	Departmental practice on the minuting of discussions between the Secretary of State and First Ministers of the devolved Administrations is the same as that for interaction with any other individual(s). Minutes are only required if there are substantive agreements that need to be recorded and communicated to a wider audience, or which need to be kept as a public record. In detail, a record should be kept:
	to account for expenditure or to record financial or other important decisions;
	where information or a decision has to be passed to a wide audience;
	or where the message is too detailed or complex to deliver verbally or may need to be studied carefully.

AWE Aldermaston: Planning Permission

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to submit a planning application for the proposed Technology Development Centre at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to the local planning authority; whether an environmental impact assessment will be prepared for the proposed development; and whether he plans to request a defence-exempt environmental impact assessment direction for the proposed development.

Peter Luff: holding answer 30 November 2011
	The planning application for the proposed Technology Development Centre was submitted to West Berkshire council on 25 November 2011. A Defence environmental impact assessment exemption direction was granted by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), on 17 August 2011 so an environmental impact assessment will not be submitted. However, a defence-exempt environmental appraisal has been included with the planning application. This provides the majority of the information that would have been supplied with an environmental impact assessment; a small amount of information has, however, been omitted for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Conflict Prevention

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 7.4 of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy, whether he plans to publish a watchlist of fragile countries.

Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) to my hon. Friend the Member for South West Devon (Mr Streeter), on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 273W.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Soothsayer project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The original approval for Soothsayer was £150 million. The contract was terminated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on 24 June 2009. The final costs are being withheld as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. For delivery, prior to termination, the expected delivery date was April 2011. The prime contractor was Lockheed Martin Systems Integration and there was no consortium.

Departmental Publications

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) leaflets, (b) posters and (c) reports his Department has published since May 2010; how much each cost; and which company (i) published and (ii) designed each.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a central contract with Corporate Document Services (CDS) for the provision of printing services. The contract covers a range of printed material in both paper and other materials using all forms of printing methods and technology. The contract can be used for Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and other departmental printing requirements. Identifying specific types of order, as defined in the question, would require line by line examination of records. The volume of orders placed through the contract means that this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Orders placed through the CDS contract may include design work. Orders placed through the contract cover a variety of products; in addition to those products listed in the question, and among many others, the contract covers production of technical publications, periodicals, magazines, forms, business cards, CD/DVD duplication, signage, scanning and microfiche services and internet services.
	The total cost of this contract between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2011 was £11.78 million. This represents a reduction of almost £2 million from the contract's total cost over the previous 18-month period, 1 November 2008 to 30 April 2010, which was £13.56 million.
	The Government's Central Office of Information (COI) have also managed some printing activity on the Department's behalf. Leaflets and posters printed through COI over the period requested have cost some £100,000.
	On 31 May 2010, the Prime Minister wrote to all Government Departments with plans to open up Government data, with a specific commitment to publish Government expenditure over £25,000. This published information includes payments made to CDS and to COI for any services. For the MOD it can be found at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ModSpend/ModSpendOver25000DataFiles.htm

Departmental Written Questions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questions for written answer on a named day received a (a) holding and (b) substantive response on the day that they were due for answer by each Minister in his Department since 11 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) received 1,444 questions for written answer on a named day from 11 May 2010 to 28 November 2011. Of these, 738 or 51%, received a substantive response on the day they were due for answer. All questions for written answer on a named day that are not answered by the MOD substantively on the day they are due for answer receive a holding response as a matter of course.
	The information requested, broken down by each Minster in the MOD, is as follows:
	
		
			 Minister Number of questions received for written answer on a named day (11 May 2010 to 28 November 2011) No. of questions receiving substantive response on day due for answer Percentage 
			 Secretary of State 274 78 28 
			 Minister of State for the Armed Forces 264 141 53 
			 Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology 319 179 56 
			 Minster for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans 527 291 55 
			 Minster for International Security Strategy 60 49 82 
		
	
	The MOD shall be providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance at the end of the parliamentary Session. Statistics relating to the MOD's performance for the 2009-10 Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Ex-servicemen

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with veteran groups.

Philip Hammond: While I have had no formal meetings with Veteran Groups to date, I have had the pleasure and honour of meeting veterans on 16 October at Royal Wootton Basset; on 13 November, Remembrance Sunday, at the Cenotaph; and on 20 November, in Paris at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ceremony.
	Defence Ministers and officials meet regularly with Veteran Groups on a wide range of issues. We also work very closely with other Government Departments, devolved Administrations, and Voluntary Sector organisations to ensure that the needs and circumstances of the ex-Service community are known with the aim of improving veterans' access to services and to assist with their transition to civilian life.

Ex-servicemen

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many times the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans has received meeting requests from (a) The Veterans Charity, (b) Veterans UK and (c) The Royal British Legion;
	(2)  how many times the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans has received meeting requests from Combat Stress since 11 May 2011; and how many of these requests have been fulfilled;
	(3)  how many times the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans has received meeting requests from the Falkland Veterans Foundation since 11 May 2011; and how many of these requests have been fulfilled;
	(4)  how many times the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans has received meeting requests from the Soldier's Charity since 11 May 2011; and how many of these requests have been fulfilled.

Andrew Robathan: While we do not hold records of all meeting requests, I can confirm that I regularly meet representatives of charities which raise money for, and represent the interests of, current and former members of our armed forces and their families, either on a one to one basis or as part of wider forums, such as the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation or the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s Welfare Conference.
	Since May 2011, I am not aware that I have met representatives of the Veterans Charity or the Falkland Veterans Foundation. Veterans UK is the MOD's Service Personnel and Veterans’ Agency (SPVA) online website. I regularly meet members of SPVA staff to discuss departmental issues.

Germany: Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with the German Government concerning the NATO Status of Forces Agreement—SOFA—Supplementary Agreement.

Gerald Howarth: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has not held any discussions with the German Government concerning the NATO SOFA Supplementary Agreement.
	The previous Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), did write to his German counterpart at the time of the strategic defence and security review informing the German Government that we would be relocating British forces to the UK.

Ministerial Meetings

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met (i) Mr Jon Moulton and (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (A) on his Department's premises and (B) elsewhere.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 7 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas), on 21 November 2011, Official Report, columns 25-6W.

Libya: Armed Conflict

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air sorties were flown in each month of the Libya campaign to the end of October 2011.

Philip Hammond: The approximate number of air sorties flown by the UK armed forces by month in support of operations in Libya is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of Sorties 
			 March 2011 180 
			 April 2011 430 
			 May 2011 440 
			 June 2011 490 
			 July 2011 510 
			 August 2011 540 
			 September 2011 390 
			 October 2011 240 
		
	
	In addition, from 19 March to 31 October 2011, C130 and C-17 aircraft flew 25 operational sorties that landed in Libya; and, Lynx helicopters also flew 172 sorties in support of operations in Libya. Flights in support of Operation ELLAMY have also been flown to and from Italy and Cyprus but the information on these sorties is not held in the format requested.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made of the satellite datalink capacity for communication between ISTAR assets during Operation Ellamy.

Philip Hammond: In Operation Ellamy, effective information sharing was achieved via satellite communications. However, satellite datalink communication between ISTAR assets was not the primary means of supporting near-real time co-ordination and datasharing. Instead, ultra high frequency and very high frequency radios and military tactical datalinks were utilised to good effect.

Military Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Navy fixed wing aircraft are based in (i) the UK and (ii) Germany.

Peter Luff: Information on all in-service fixed wing aircraft based in the UK is shown in the following table. In-service aircraft include all bar those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. Remotely piloted air systems and contractor owned fleets are not included.
	
		
			 Service In-service fixed wing aircraft 
			 Royal Navy 10 
			 Army 11 
			 RAF 696 
		
	
	There are no fixed wing aircraft based in Germany.

Navy: Standards

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Royal Navy.

Peter Luff: The fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service is constantly monitored through an effective and well proven process, which identifies, assesses and manages any risks to the delivery of outputs and objectives, reporting, as appropriate, to the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), as Chairman of the Defence Board.

Rescue Services

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether he has reached agreement with the Secretary of State for Transport on any reduction in the number of search and rescue bases; and where any such reduction will take place;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the timetable for the transfer of the Search and Rescue Service to his Department.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on 28 November 2011, Official Report, columns 52-53WS, by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening).

Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines are available for operations or are on operations.

Peter Luff: The Naval Service has seven ship submersible nuclear and four ships submersible ballistic nuclear in various states of readiness for operational service.

Submarines: Decommissioning

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines he expects to be transported from (a) Rosyth to Devonport and (b) Devonport to Rosyth by means of (i) towing, (ii) towing on a barge and (iii) heavy lift ship under his proposals for submarine dismantling.

Peter Luff: No decisions have been taken on where submarine dismantling will be undertaken but the Ministry of Defence has made proposals as part of the public consultation that is currently under way. The consultation documents are available at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DES/WhatWeDo/SDP
	Under these proposals, radioactive materials would be removed from the submarines where they are stored at Devonport and Rosyth Dockyards. No transport of submarines from Rosyth to Devonport or vice versa would, therefore, be required.

Submarines: Training

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) the structure and (b) location is of the Submarine Sea Training Organisation.

Peter Luff: The Submarine Sea Training Organisation is part of Flag Officer Sea Training and is led by a Royal Navy Captain supported by eight functional areas responsible for the different elements associated with specialised training. Training is currently located in Faslane for the Vanguard class arid Astute class submarines, and Devonport for Trafalgar Class submarine.

Trident

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Trident nuclear weapon system and its successor was discussed by his predecessor at meetings on his visits to Washington on (a) 22 to 25 May 2011 and (b) 31 July to 3 August 2011.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 15 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 275W.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department is of deploying a (a) Desert Hawk, (b) Hermes 450 and (c) Reaper; how many people are needed to operate each such unmanned aerial vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The Desert Hawk, Hermes 450 and Reaper Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) were all purchased as urgent operational requirements. Total financial approval for delivering and supporting these UAS including deployment costs on operations is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 UAV type Approval (£ million) 
			 Desert Hawk 42 
			 Hermes 450 181 
			 Reaper (1)506 
			 (1) Includes funding to sustain the Reaper capability until 2015. 
		
	
	The Desert Hawk, Hermes 450 and Reaper UAS tactical capability is provided by a total of 290 personnel consisting of command, aircrew, technicians intelligence and support staff, split as follows;
	
		
			 UAV type Personnel numbers 
			 Desert Hawk 63 
			 Hermes 450 74 
			 Desert Hawk/Hermes 450(1) 38 
			 Reaper 115 
			 Total 290 
			 (1) Combined staff covering exploitation, command and support functions.

Metal Theft

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with ministerial colleagues in the Home Office on protecting war memorials from metal thieves.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has no direct responsibility for this matter but supports any plan to protect the memory of those who have served and paid the ultimate price defending our country. It is appalling that memorials are being vandalised and violated in the manner reported.
	I am aware that my ministerial colleagues in the Home Office have had a number of discussions with Ministers from other Government Departments to consider what approach should be taken to tackle metal theft.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Adam Werritty

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) she, (b) officials of her Department and (c) special advisers in her Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on her Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department and special advisers have not met with Mr Adam Werritty since May 2010. Information on whether officials have met Mr Werritty is not held centrally.

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for the surrender of an individual under a European Arrest Warrant were received by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2010-11.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 November 2011
	In 2010-11, SOCA received 6,032 Part 1 European Arrest Warrant requests (relating to individuals who are in the UK) and 256 Part 3 warrants (relating to individuals wanted by the UK).
	Member states will often issue an EAW to all other member states when the location of the individual sought is not known. The number of requests received, therefore, is not necessarily an indicator of those individuals being in the UK.

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK nationals were extradited to another EU member state under a European arrest warrant in (a) 2004-5, (b) 2005-6, (c) 2006-07, (d) 2007-08, (e) 2008-09, (f) 2009-10 and (g) 2010-11.

Damian Green: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs).
	Since the introduction of the EAW in 2004 193 British nationals have been surrendered by the UK to another European Union member state under an EAW.
	Due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 October 2008 it is not possible to provide data on the number of British nationals surrendered to each European Union member state prior to this date:
	
		
			  British nationals surrendered 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 11 
			 2006 26 
			 2007 27 
			 1 January 2008 to 30 September 2008 32 
		
	
	
		
			 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009 British nationals surrendered 
			 Netherlands 2 
			 Spain 1 
			 Total 3 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 British nationals surrendered 
			 Belgium 1 
			 Cyprus 3 
			 France 5 
			 Germany 2 
			 Greece 1 
			 Hungary 1 
			 Ireland 4 
			 Lithuania 1 
			 Malta 1 
			 Netherlands 2 
			 Poland 8 
			 Portugal 1 
			 Spain 11 
			 Total 41 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 British nationals surrendered 
			 Belgium 3 
			 Czech Republic 1 
			 France 2 
			 Germany 7 
			 Greece 8 
			 Ireland 4 
			 Malta 1 
			 Netherlands 5 
			 Poland 1 
			 Spain 16 
			 Total 48

Legal Proceedings

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations that have received funding from her Department have brought legal proceedings against her Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether her Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases.

Damian Green: Judicial review proceedings were brought in 2010 against the Secretary of State for the Home Department by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in respect of the ‘Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees’. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Secretary of State for Defence were also defendants to these proceedings. The EHRC was unsuccessful in its action. The defendants applied for costs and the Administrative Court made a costs order against the EHRC. The defendants will shortly start the process of recovering their costs pursuant to the costs order.
	Judicial review proceedings have been brought on two occasions by staff associations representing the interests of police officers, which are funded in part by the Secretary of State. In 2008 the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board (which includes the Police Federation for England and Wales, the Police Superintendents' Association for England and Wales and the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association) challenged a decision of the Secretary of State not to implement in full a pay award recommended by the board. The Staff Side's claim was unsuccessful. No application was made by the Secretary of State for costs. In 2009 the Police Federation for England and Wales challenged a decision of the Secretary of State to delay the implementation of new actuarial factors used to calculate lump sums payable as part of police officers' pensions. The Police Federation's claim succeeded.
	Central records do not allow an electronic search to be conducted to establish whether a claimant was an ‘organisation’, as distinct from an ‘individual’ but, apart from the instances mentioned above, the Department is not aware of any other legal proceedings that have been brought against it in the last five years by other organisations which receive direct departmental funding towards their operational costs.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible.

Damian Green: The (a) Home Office and (b) the public bodies for which it is responsible do not directly contract for food supplies but procures catering services through wider facilities management or operating service contracts. As part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) led initiatives, we have begun work to establish the proportion of food already procured by our facilities management and operating service suppliers that meets buying standards for food and catering. We will continue to work with suppliers to gain accurate data and to identify what potential there is to increase this compliance.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proportion of food sourced by (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering.

Damian Green: The (a) Home Office and (b) the public bodies for which it is responsible do not directly contract for food supplies but procures catering services through wider facilities management or operating service contracts. As part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) led initiatives, we have begun work to establish the proportion of food already procured by our facilities management and operating service suppliers that meets buying standards for food and catering. We will continue to work with suppliers to gain accurate data and to identify what potential there is to increase this compliance.

Judicial Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on (a) the recovery of legal costs from failed applicants for judicial review and (b) enforcement of any such recovery; and whether any exceptions apply.

Damian Green: The policy of the Department is generally to seek the recovery of legal costs from failed applicants for judicial review. Where the Department has sought to recover its costs and obtained a legal costs order then it would generally seek to enforce the order. Each case is assessed according to the individual circumstances and there may always be exceptions which warrant a different approach on the facts of a particular case.

Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what receptions and events have been hosted by her Department since May 2010, including those sponsored by a third party.

Damian Green: We do not hold central records of all receptions and events hosted by the Department.

Deportation: Offenders

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners have been (a) released and (b) deported since the introduction of deportation for foreign national prisoners on completion of their sentence.

Damian Green: The power to deport foreign nationals where their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good came into force on 1 January 1973. The following table shows a breakdown of the foreign national offenders (FNO) released between March 2009 and April 2011. Data prior to 2009 are unreliable.
	
		
			 FNO releases 
			  Released by court Released by UKBA Total 
			 2009 1,044 164 1,208 
			 2010 1,137 118 1,255 
			 2011 351 33 384 
		
	
	The following table shows deportations from 1991 to the second quarter of 2011.
	
		
			 FNO removals 
			  Number 
			 1991 560 
			 1992 640 
			 1993 550 
			 1994 320 
			 1995 330 
			 1996 370 
			 1997 360 
			 1998 345 
			 1999(1) 375 
			 2000(2) — 
			 2001 450 
			 2002 404 
			 2003 1,270 
			 2004 1,660 
			 2005 1,673 
			 2006 2,396 
			 2007 4,200 
			 2008 5,395 
			 2009 5,528 
			 2010 5,342 
			 2011 Q1 1,339 
			 2011Q2 936 
			 (1) Figures for 1991 to 1999 taken from Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 2001, page 95. (2) Figures for 2000—no data available from any source. Note: No reliable data are available prior to 1991.

Detainees: Children

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish any agreement reached with Barnardo's concerning the detention of children and their families under immigration law.

Damian Green: Cedars, the pre-departure accommodation for families with children which I opened on 17 August, forms part of the new family returns process put in place to fulfil the Government's commitment to end the detention of children for immigration purposes.
	Barnardo's provides welfare and support services at the accommodation to help families prepare for leaving the UK. The terms of the agreement to do so are commercially sensitive and are therefore not published.

Equality Act 2010: Legal Opinion

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal advice she has received on the applicability of the Equality Act 2010 to staff employed by the Police and Crime Commissioner after 15 November 2012.

Nick Herbert: Police and Crime Commissioners and their staff will be subject to all existing general legal requirements on public bodies, including the Equality Act 2010.
	The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 amends the Equality Act to make Police and Crime Commissioners, and the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime, subject to the Equality Duty (paragraphs 380-383 of schedule 16 of the Act).

Firearms

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of criminal damage cases in England and Wales that have involved the use of firearms in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Nick Herbert: The most recently available data are for 2009-10. In that year, the police recorded 4,085 offences of criminal damage which involved the use of a firearm. Of these, the vast majority involved the use of an air weapon, 3,646 offences, or 89% of the total.
	Data for 2010-11 will be available in January 2012.

Homophobia

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homophobic incidents have been reported to the police (a) in Lancashire and (b) nationally in each year since 2005.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not available centrally from the recorded crime statistics.

Immigrants: Detainees

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the UK Border Agency has any plans to review its policy on the time of day at which it visits homes for the removal of failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance provided to immigration officers undertaking home visits;
	(3)  whether guidance is provided to immigration officers on the time of day a visit should take place to a home where a child is resident.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has clear guidance on the considerations that need to be made when planning an enforcement visit, including the time the visit should take place.
	Guidance for the timing of operational enforcement visits to residential addresses is set out in chapters 31, 45 and 61 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance which is available for public viewing on the UK Border Agency website at the link below:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/guidance/enforcement/
	Where enforcement action is being considered to ensure the return of a family with children, an individually tailored return plan will be referred to the independent Family Returns Panel. Enforcement visits will only take place when the Family Returns Panel has advised on the most appropriate time of day to secure the return of the family, while having regard to the welfare of the children.
	The timing of visits for cases falling outside of the family returns process is determined and also recorded in the risk assessment that is carried out for each visit. Visits should not normally take place either very late at night or very early in the morning unless operational planning indicates that a visit would be frustrated if carried out at a different time.
	All existing policy and guidance relating to the timing of enforcement visits is regularly reviewed as part of a programme of nationwide unannounced assurance currently being rolled out by the UK Border Agency's Professional Standards for Enforcement team (PSE).

Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria she uses for immigration files placed in the controlled archive.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The controlled archive is a hold for those cases where the case resolution directorate (CRD) had tried to establish contact with the applicant through the current set of processes and has been unsuccessful. All checks to establish the applicant’s whereabouts have been made and all information on case information database (CID) for the applicant is correct.
	When deciding whether to place a case file in the controlled archive, internal electronic records and the case papers must be checked thoroughly to ensure that all steps have been taken to contact the applicant. All cases are subjected to checks against watchlists and the police national computer before being placed in the controlled archive.
	The UK Border Agency also has access to a number of further external databases including:
	UK Visas Database
	Voters registry
	DVLA records
	HM Revenue and Customs
	Department for Work and Pensions
	NHS Trace line

Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often immigration cases in the controlled archive are checked; what databases are used to carry out such checks; and how many staff perform such checks.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The Case Assurance and Audit Unit are responsible for ongoing management of the controlled archive and active management of cases which could not be fully concluded due to a barrier, the unit consists of 126 staff.
	Each case is reviewed on a six monthly basis and a range of internal Home Office and external databases are available.
	The Controlled Archive is a hold for those cases where the Case Resolution Directorate (CRD) had tried to establish contact with the applicant through the current set of processes and has been unsuccessful and all checks to establish the applicant's whereabouts have been made and all information on Case Information Database (CID) for the applicant is correct.
	When deciding whether to place a case file in the Controlled Archive, electronic records (ASYS, CID), and the case papers must be checked thoroughly to ensure that all steps have been taken to contact the applicant. All cases are subjected to checks against the Police National computer and Warning Index before being placed in the controlled archive. The UK Border Agency also has access to a number of further external databases including:
	UK Visas Database
	Voters registry
	DVLA records
	HM Revenue and Customs
	Department for Work and Pensions
	NHS Trace line

Immigration Controls

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plans to publish the response to her Department's consultation on reform of family migration.

Damian Green: The family migration consultation closed on 6 October 2011. It proposed new measures to tackle abuse, promote integration and reduce burdens on the taxpayer. The Government are considering the responses to the consultation and will publish their response in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter dated 17 October 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr Zaid Khan.

Damian Green: A reply to the right hon. Member’s letter was sent on 25 November 2011.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department will respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of 11 October 2011 and 7 November 2011 regarding a constituent, Hannes Turnbull.

Damian Green: A reply to the hon. Member’s letter was sent on 24 November 2011.

National Policing Improvement Agency

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of abolishing the National Policing Improvement Agency and creating its successor bodies.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office is working closely with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and others to ensure that the transition process and continuing functions are delivered within funding allocations.

National Policing Improvement Agency

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect on the security of police IT of the abolition of the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Nick Herbert: Protection and availability of information within forces remains the responsibility of chief officers who are supported by a senior information risk owner (SIRO) within their force and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) SIRO for policing.
	The police ICT programme, which is setting up the new police ICT company, is working to ensure the continuity and ongoing security of national ICT services.

Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which representative organisations within the police are recognised by her Department.

Nick Herbert: Police officers in England and Wales are represented by the following staff associations: the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, and the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association. The federation is a statutory body and its constitution and proceedings are prescribed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in regulations. The other two staff associations are not statutory bodies but, along with the Federation, they are represented on the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom and the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales. These boards make recommendations to the Secretary of State in relation to terms and conditions of service and other questions affecting the police, and are consulted on proposed regulations concerning those matters.
	Police staff employed by police authorities in England and Wales are represented by the following trade unions: UNISON, Unite, GMB, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect, and FDA. Recognition of trade unions for collective bargaining purposes is a matter for individual forces rather than the Home Office.
	The Home Office meets with a range of other organisations which represent the needs and interests of police officers, including the national Diversity Staff Support Associations. The national Diversity Staff Support Associations (DSSAs) are entirely independent of Government and are no longer funded by the Home Office.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her proposed mayors for English cities will be able to influence the policing priorities of elected police commissioners.

Nick Herbert: A mayor would be on the Police and Crime Panel for their force area.

Police: Accountability

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what spending limits will be imposed on elections for police commissioners;
	(2)  whether elections to the post of police commissioner will be eligible for a free post election delivery.

Nick Herbert: The detail of spending limits, campaign regulation and provision will form part of the secondary legislation under section 58 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, and will be laid before Parliament in the new year.

Police: Appeals

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure there is an independent appeal process for police staff that are dismissed after 15 November 2012.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office will work with relevant partners to agree an approach that continues to offer police staff appropriate protections.

Police: Firearms

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has issued to police forces in respect of the renewal of firearm licences for serving officers.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office has not issued specific guidance on the renewal of firearms licences for serving police officers. A serving police officer, while in the line of duty, does not require a licence as they are exempt under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. If serving police officers hold a prohibited weapon for private use, they would have to apply for, and renew, a licence in the same manner as a member of the general public.

Religiously Aggravated Offences

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of hate crime against Muslims have been reported to the police in (a) Lancashire and (b) nationally in each year since 2005.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not available centrally from the recorded crime statistics.

Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what her policy is on the involvement of the security service in rendition operations; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have authorised the involvement of the security service in a rendition operation since May 2010; if so, on how many occasions such authorisation has been given; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: It is the policy of successive HM Governments not to comment on security and intelligence matters.
	The Government policy on rendition is absolutely clear: we do not render people in breach of our legal obligations. Should another state wish to transfer an individual through our territory or airspace, we would consider all the circumstances and only grant permission if we were satisfied that it would accord with our domestic law and international obligations.
	We unreservedly condemn any practice of "extraordinary rendition" to torture. We will not co-operate in any transfer of an individual where we believe there is a real risk of torture to the individual concerned. The Government's clear policy is not to participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment for any purpose. The coalition agreement made absolutely clear that:
	“we will never condone the use of torture”.

Telephones: Nuisance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of complaints made to the police by recipients of unwelcome, nuisance or obscene telephone calls and text messages in each of the last five years.

Nick Herbert: From the information held by the Home Office, it is not possible to identify separately the number of complaints to the police involving incidents of unwelcome, nuisance or obscene telephone calls and text messages.

Telephones: Nuisance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what her assessment is of whether appropriate arrangements are in place with telecommunications operators to support police investigations into complaints, made from the recipients of unwelcome, nuisance or sexually suggestive and obscene telephone calls and text messages;
	(2)  what timeframe the police are expected to check telephone records from telecommunications providers as part of an investigation arising from complaints received from the recipients of unwelcome, nuisance or sexually suggestive and obscene telephone calls and text messages;
	(3)  (a) what steps her Department is taking and (b) what guidelines her Department issues to the police to ensure that complaints about (i) nuisance telephone calls and text messages and (ii) sexually suggestive and obscene telephone calls and text messages which are offensive to the recipient are investigated in a prompt manner.

Nick Herbert: While the Secretary of State for the Home Department has overall responsibility for ensuring the delivery of an efficient and effective police service in England and Wales and setting the national strategic direction of policing, Ministers have no role in operational policing decisions, which are for chief officers of each police force and their constables. The Home Office does not set central targets for police response times or assess support available during police investigations. Provisions to deal with harassment involving any form of data communication is also covered in the Association of Chief Police Officers' Practice Advice on Stalking and Harassment.
	As part of the Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan, the Government launched a consultation on stalking on 14 November 2011 to ask for views on how we can protect victims of stalking more effectively. The consultation incorporates a number of issues, including current legislation, the effect of police information notices, search powers, the work of existing organisations and alternative measures to tackle stalking. The consultation will remain open until 5 February 2012.
	The Home Office has been working with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice and a number of stalking charities to ensure that best practice guidance is disseminated through a series of regional events. This kind of help and improved training can ensure that stalking behaviour is identified early and acted upon.

EDUCATION

Academies: Primary Education

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 434W, on academies: primary education, what weight he gives to improved performance (a) against floor targets and (b) among pupils with special needs in determining whether to convert primary schools to academy status; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Primary schools that are performing well are considered for conversion to academy status following an application being submitted to the Department by the school. In assessing a school's performance we consider the last three years exam results, comparisons both locally and nationally and the last Ofsted inspection.
	Schools that are considered not to be performing well may still be considered for conversion to academy status provided they convert in an appropriate chain arrangement with a school that is performing well or a strong sponsor.
	Each application will be considered on a case by case basis, with the decision being informed by factors set out in academies guidance published on the DfE website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b0061257/how-to-become-an-academy
	We will consider any other evidence of a school's performance which a school considers to be significant, including contextual factors such as the number of pupils on the school roll with special educational needs.

Academies: School Meals

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recourse is available to parents in situations where school meals served in new academies and free schools do not meet the standards expected of schools under the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2006.

Nick Gibb: Academies are not bound by the school food regulations but the Government believe that academies, including free schools, will wish to continue to provide healthy school food. Parents who have concerns about the quality of the food being served in an academy or a free school should raise their concerns with the academy through its complaints procedure.

Capital Grant

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce how many local authorities will receive funding from his Department’s capital grant to be allocated in the autumn; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Applications to the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) are currently being assessed and we will announce those projects which will go forward in due course.
	On 3 November, the Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove) announced an additional £500 million basic need funding. The funding, made available from within existing budgets, has been allocated to 111 local authorities that are experiencing the greatest pressure on school places.
	The Department is hoping to announce future allocations of capital maintenance, devolved formula capital and basic need funding for local authorities and schools in due course.

Children in Care

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of whether local authorities are meeting the requirement to inform the relevant local authority when placing a looked after child in that authority's area; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not collect information on how responsible local authorities are meeting the requirement to inform the receiving authority when placing a child. The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and statutory guidance make clear that before approving a decision to place the child outside the area of the responsible authority, the nominated officer must ensure that the local authority for the area in which the child is to be placed has been notified.

Children: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of schools returned information to the most recent School Census on whether a child in the school had a disability.

Sarah Teather: Information on pupils' disability was collected for the first time in the January 2011 School Census, on a voluntary basis. In the January 2011 School Census, 14.5% (3,132) of schools provided disability information for at least one pupil. However, for 906 of these schools the only valid disability code recorded was 'none'.

Children's Centres

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of Sure Start children's centres there will be in 2015.

Sarah Teather: Local authorities have a duty under section 5A (1) of the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there are sufficient children's centres to meet local need. Many local authorities are reviewing their provision, and they must consult before making any significant changes. The situation changes frequently and it is not possible to predict accurately the position at the end of 2015. The Early Intervention Grant provides enough funding to retain a network of children's centres.

Children's Centres

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the number of designated children's centres following the introduction of revised Sure Start Statutory Guidance.

Sarah Teather: The Department will consult on revised statutory guidance on Sure Start children's centres in due course. However, the definition of a Sure Start children's centre is contained in section 5A of the Childcare Act 2006. The Act also requires local authorities to consult on any significant changes to their children's centre provision including proposals to close a centre. Local authorities are asked to keep the Sure Start ON database up to date with details of their children's centres and this information is available on the DirectGov website. The number of centres is only one measure of Sure Start provision, what matters most is the quality and range of services that families receive.

Children's Centres

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken in payment by results pilots to ensure children's centre providers are rewarded in line with the outcomes they achieve.

Sarah Teather: We have, in conjunction with the Children's Improvement Board, identified 26 trial areas that are developing payment by results approaches for children's centres in their areas. We want to use these payment-by-results trials to incentivise a focus on the core purpose of children's centres: to improve child development and school readiness among young children and to reduce inequalities.
	Final decisions on the measures used for national payment by results will be informed by early learning from the trials. It is for local authorities to decide which measures to use for local payment of providers by results.

Children's Centres

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if his Department will define what constitutes significant change to a children's centre in the forthcoming revised Sure Start Statutory Guidance.

Sarah Teather: Section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006 makes clear that there must be consultation where there are significant changes proposed to children's centre provision in their area. This includes opening a new children's centre, making a significant change to the range and nature of services provided through a children's centre, closing or merging centres, or reducing the services provided to such an extent that it no longer meets the statutory definition of a Sure Start Children's Centre.
	The revised Sure Start Children's Centre Statutory Guidance will clarify the children's centres sufficiency duty and duties relevant to the core purpose of children's centres.

Class Sizes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average class size has been in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 2009.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 24 November 2011
	The requested information is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Average class size state-funded primary and secondary schools (1, 2, 3) : Classes as taught (4) . England. January 2009-11 
			  State-funded primary schools (1, 2) State-funded secondary schools  (1, 3) 
			 2009 26.2 20.6 
			 2010 26.4 20.5 
			 2011 26.6 20.4 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies (including all-through academies). (4) One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. Source: School Census 
		
	
	The latest available information on class sizes is published in tables 7a-7c of the Statistical First Release 'Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011' available at
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml

Classroom Assistants: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teaching assistants are employed within (a) Greater London, (b) the London Borough of Havering and (c) Romford.

Nick Gibb: The following table provides the number of teaching assistants (head count) employed in publicly funded schools within Greater London, the London borough of Havering local authority and Romford parliamentary constituency in England, November 2010.
	
		
			 Teaching assistants (head count) in publicly funded schools—November2010 
			  Teaching assistants 
			 England 341,170 
			 Greater London 46,860 
			 London borough of Havering 1,680 
			 Romford 580 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Workforce Census

Departmental Audit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many internal audits have taken place (a) in his Department and (b) in the non-departmental bodies for which his Department is responsible in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: A total of 34(1) internal audit reports were issued in the Department in the last 12 months to 31 October 2011. This sum does not include those undertaken by non-departmental public bodies as those organisations are responsible for their own internal audit services and we do not hold that information centrally. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.
	(1) Cross-departmental reviews, which involve audit activity in multiple business areas are only counted once.
	The total also excludes a large portion of other work undertaken by internal audit staff such as special investigations, consultancy and advice, nor does it reflect work in progress as at 31 October 2011.
	To note, other Government Departments’ internal audit functions may service their agencies and non-departmental public bodies and therefore may have access to this information.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: To get information on how much this Department has spent on design for the areas mentioned above could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	On logos and branding campaigns, I refer you to my answer of 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 261W, which details the breakdown of costs associated with the cost of rebranding the Department when it was established in May 2010. Since then, corporate design in areas (a) to (e) has been developed in-house at no additional cost. This includes the design of simple logos for our new Executive agencies, which will be used for building signage, recruitment advertising, stationery and campaigns.

Children’s Services: Grants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding from his Department (a) Barnardos, (b) the British Association for Adoption and Fostering and (c) the British Science Association (i) received in 2010-11 and (ii) will receive in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 25 November 2011
	The Voluntary and Community Sector is key to the development and delivery of services for children, young people and families. This Department funds a number of voluntary sector organisations, both directly and indirectly through local authorities and schools.
	Based on the information available in the Department's finance system the funding made available to the named organisations in financial year 2010-11 is given in the following table, together with the estimate of funding for financial year 2011-12.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 ( Funding in financial year ) 2011-12 ( Estimated funding ) 
			 Barnardos 235,045 1,927,979 
			 British Association for Adoption and Fostering 1,318,173 1,332,020 
			 British Science Association 581,289 250,000

Telephone Services

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has allocated to each telephone helpline funded by his Department in 2011-12; what the purpose is of each such helpline; and how many calls each helpline received in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: The following table shows funding and calls for a number of telephone helplines which the Department has responsibility for. There may be other helplines which the Department has funded in recent years (e.g. temporary helplines) which are not included here. The funding and call numbers shown may be calculated using different criteria and are therefore not comparable.
	
		
			 Name of helpline Calls per year Funding for 2011-12 (£) 
			 National DfE telephone inquiry line 2007-08: 144,269 206,701 
			  2008-09: 113,575  
			  2009-10: 103,196  
			  2010-11: 87,583  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 46,947  
			    
			 Contact A Family telephone helpline 2007-08: n/k 394,445 
			  2008-09: 8,968  
			  2009-10: 8,226  
			  2010-11: 10,070  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 6,212  
			    
			 Coram Children's Legal Centre telephone helpline 2007-08: 6,694 314,242 
			  2008-09: 6,092  
			  2009-10: 9,007  
			  2010-11: 11,296  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 6,948  
			    
			 Family Rights Group telephone helpline 2007-08: 5,009 273,455 
			  2008-09: 3,309  
			  2009-10: 4,695  
		
	
	
		
			  2010-11: 5,848  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 3,276  
			    
			 Family Lives (formerly Parentline Plus) 2007-08: 121,623 1,112,094 
			  2008-09: 66,123  
			  2009-10: 66,474  
			    
			 Telephone Helpline 2010-11: 61,169  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 28,368  
			    
			 Gingerbread telephone helpline 2007-08: 9,569 282,181 
			  2008-09: 5,182  
			  2009-10: 5,677  
			  2010-11: 7,762  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 6,212  
			    
			 Young Minds telephone helpline 2007-08: 2,319 358,217 
			  2008-09: 3,282  
			  2009-10: 5,920  
			  2010-11: 6,282  
			  2011-12 (April to October): 3,528  
			    
			 Advisory Centre for Education telephone helpline 2007-08: 18,296 (1)219,843 
			  2008-09: 7,296  
			  2009-10: 10,875  
			  2010-11: 11,813  
			  2011-12 (April to September): 4,555  
			 (1) April to September 2011 only

Education: Disadvantaged

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals for education reforms on people experiencing social exclusion.

Nick Gibb: We expect that the reforms set out in the White Paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’ will ensure that our education system compares with the best in the world. The reforms will create a system in which schools are better able to raise standards and to narrow the attainment gap between rich and poor. We are clear that every child, regardless of their gender, race, disability or socio-economic background, must have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
	Our policy to invigorate the school system with autonomous academies and free schools can be seen bearing fruit in the above-average results of the earliest sponsored academies, and in new admissions policy which encourages academies and free schools to prioritise those in receipt of pupil premium.
	A full impact assessment and an equalities impact assessment were published together with the White Paper and are available in the House Libraries.

Education: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made in ensuring a more even distribution and allocation of funds for education services across the UK.

Nick Gibb: We recognise that the school funding system needs reform. Currently, schools facing similar challenges can receive very different levels of funding, for no reason other than historical decisions and an out of date assessment of need. Two schools with the same needs should receive a similar level of funding.
	In July we published the second phase of consultation on school funding reform, ‘A consultation on school funding: Proposals for a fairer system’. This consultation gave options and proposals for a fairer funding system that is easier for everyone to understand. We want schools to be funded on a much fairer and more transparent basis, and with schools receiving funding based on an up to date assessment of needs. The consultation closed on 11 October 2011. We will consider carefully the responses to the consultation before deciding how to proceed most appropriately towards a fairer and more transparent funding system.

Education: Pay Systems

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for consultation with service users as part of payment by results pilots.

Sarah Teather: We have, in conjunction with the Children's Improvement Board, identified 26 trial areas that are developing payment by results approaches for children's centres in their areas.
	I expect all payment by results trials to put arrangements in place to consult service users. One of the criteria used in choosing the trial areas was a commitment to engaging key stakeholders, including parents and communities, in the process.

Employment: Young People

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he considered changing the curriculum to ensure the practical application of core subjects is taught for the purposes of increasing the employability of young people.

Nick Gibb: We aim to reform the national curriculum so that it properly reflects the body of essential knowledge in key subjects, leaving teachers greater flexibility to use their professional judgment to design wider school curricula that best meet the needs of their pupils. Teachers will be able to use this increased flexibility to teach pupils the practical application of both the core and other national curriculum subjects to help increase their employability. We will be announcing our initial proposals for the national curriculum next year, following which there will be full public consultation before final decisions are made.

English Baccalaureate

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of the statutory 25 hour school week which will be taken up by subjects that count towards the English baccalaureate.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 25 November 2011
	There are no statutory requirements around the minimum weekly hours which pupils should be taught. The lengths of pupils' morning and afternoon sessions are determined by schools. Maintained schools and non-maintained special schools have to carry out 360 sessions (190 days) per academic year.
	Schools decide on the timetabling of their teaching, and their approach to the proportion of teaching time allocated to subjects within the English baccalaureate will vary. The English baccalaureate consists of five subject areas and pupils will take six or seven GCSEs to achieve it; the average number of GCSE (or equivalent) entries per pupil is 11.4.

Further Education: Finance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to provide funding for further education colleges for pupils aged 16 to 18.

Nick Gibb: Further Education (FE) colleges received their funding allocations for the 2011/12 academic year at the end of March 2011. Indicative funding for FE colleges in the 2012-13 financial year will be set out in the YPLA's 16-19 Funding Statement, which will be published before Christmas this year. In line with the above timetable, final allocations for individual colleges for the 2012/13 academic year will be sent before the end of March 2012.

Further Education: Finance

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding bodies sponsored by his Department provide support for skills for post 16-year-olds in Birmingham; what the overall funding is for each such organisation in Birmingham or the West Midlands for each of the next five years; and what the national budget is for each organisation for each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: The relevant bodies providing funding to support 16 to 19 education and training nationally, including Birmingham and the West Midlands, are the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA—a non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department) and the Skills Funding Agency (an NDPB housing the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), which provides Department for Education funding to support 16 to 18 apprenticeships and is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
	The national budget for the YPLA in 2011-12, including pre-16 academies, is over £12.2 billion, as detailed in the Grant Letter issued by the Department on 6 September 2011 and available on the YPLA website. £48.4 million of this relates to administration funding for the organisation itself. The total budget for 2012-13 and beyond for the Education Funding Agency, which replaces the YPLA in April 2012, has yet to be decided. Details on the indicative funding for 16 to 19 participation in education and training beyond 2011-12 (including 16 to 18 apprenticeships) will be provided in the YPLA’s “16-19 Funding Statement” before Christmas. It is not possible to split out regional funding/budgets because the majority of funding is allocated directly to 16 to 19 providers rather than via regional bodies.
	The answer to the right hon. Gentleman’s question tabled to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 856-57W, gives detail in relation to the Skills Funding Agency, which predominantly supports and provides funding for adult (19+) education and training. The Skills Funding Agency budget highlighted in that reply does not include £799 million of Department for Education funding provided to the agency for 16 to 18 apprenticeships participation nationally, as detailed in the YPLA’s “16-19 Funding Statement” published in December 2010 and available at:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/YPLA/16-19_Funding_Statement.pdf
	As with the YPLA, and as set out in the answer of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 856-57W, it is not possible to split out the Skills Funding Agency’s budget on a regional basis.

Mayors: Powers

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the Government's consultation on mayoral powers, entitled What can a mayor do for your city? A consultation, and the Open Public Services White Paper, what assessment he has made of powers of his Department which could be devolved to elected mayors.

Sarah Teather: As the consultation paper makes clear, we are proposing to look to cities themselves to come forward with proposals for decentralising services and powers to the city mayor.

Music: Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of music (a) teachers and (b) lessons in primary and secondary schools in England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not collected centrally for primary schools and is not available in the format requested for secondary schools.
	There were 7,500 music teachers in service in publicly funded schools in England in November 2010. This data is taken from our wider subject level table about information for the number of teachers teaching curriculum subjects in all publicly funded secondary schools in November 2010 is provided in table 13 of the Statistical First Release ‘School Workforce in England, November 2010’. This is available at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/allstatistics/a00196713/school-workforce-sfr
	The average number of hours taught in music in a typical week to pupils in all publicly funded secondary schools in England was 92,700. Information for the average number of hours taught in a typical week to pupils in all publicly funded secondary schools by curriculum subjects is available in table 12 of the publication.
	Information for the curriculum taught by teachers in secondary schools was not collected in 2009-10. Figures for 2011-12 from the November 2011 School Workforce Census are expected to become available in summer 2012.
	The School Workforce Census was collected in full for the first time in November 2010. Previously qualifications and curriculum information was collected in the occasional sample survey ‘Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS)’. This was last undertaken in 2007. The National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) carried out the research on behalf of the Department. The project gathered information from local authority maintained secondary schools for the qualifications of their teachers and the curriculum they delivered. The results of the survey are available from the following link:
	https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-RR026

Music: Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of children studying music in primary and secondary schools does not fall;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that all children have the chance to (a) learn to play a musical instrument, (b) learn to read music and (c) receive a sound music education.

Nick Gibb: We published a National Plan for Music Education on 25 November, which puts the needs of the pupil at the heart of a new approach to music education. The Government are fully committed to high quality music education and this plan will ensure that every child should have opportunities to learn to play a musical instrument, learn to sing, have opportunities to play in ensembles and have access to musical progression routes regardless of where they live and their family circumstances.
	The plan reinforces the existing curriculum requirement for pupils to read music notation through which pupils are taught notation in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions. This plan will make it easier for parents and schools to support children and young people to take part in music both in and out of school.

Music: Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that enough music teachers are available so that every child has the chance to learn a musical instrument in school.

Nick Gibb: Specialist music teachers, together with primary classroom teachers, play a vital role in the quality of music education that children receive. The National Plan for Music Education has a number of specific proposals to improve the quality of music teaching These include a new add-on module to boost new teachers' skills and confidence in teaching music, and to improve their capacity to network within music education hubs.
	In addition, I believe that the plan itself, and the role that new music education hubs will play, will in themselves be a significant stimulus to music education that will encourage more people to teach music in and beyond schools. The plan makes clear that a potential role for music education hubs is to offer continuing profession development to school staff, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum.

Music: Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he intends to publish a national plan for music education.

Nick Gibb: We published a National Plan for Music Education on 25 November, which will reform how music education is funded and delivered. The plan was placed in the House of Commons Library and can be found on the Department for Education's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/AllPublications/Page1/DFE-00086-2011

Music: Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated for music education in England in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: The table shows Department for Education funding for music education in England in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	Our new National Plan for Music Education, published on 25 November, sets out future funding allocations and a new funding mechanism from 2012-13.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 Music Manifesto Development Director 20,000 20,000 
			 Music grants 200,000 160,000 
			 Music Manifesto Website 80,000 30,000 
			 Music Participation director 100,000 100,000 
			 Music partnership projects 1,000,000 405,000 
			 Year of Music 500,000 300,000 
			 Federation of music services—MSEP work 450,000 350,000 
			 Federation of music services—MIF 30,000 20,250 
			 In Harmony 822,000 1,000,000 
			 Singing money 10,000,000 10,000,000 
			 Music standards fund 82,580,000 82,562,467 
			 Music CPD KS2 (1)29,100,000 1,100,000 
			 Music and Dance Scheme (1)— 31,500,000 
			 (1) Indicates a brace.

Physics: Teachers

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what budget his Department has allocated for the partnership with the Institute of Physics on the teaching of physics; and what proportion such funding represents of the overall funding for the partnership.

Nick Gibb: The Department's implementation plan for the initial teacher training (ITT) strategy ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers’, published on 8 November 2011, announced the partnership with the Institute of Physics to provide up to 100 scholarships of £20,000 to help attract more of the best graduates into physics teaching. The Department will fund the payment of £20,000 to those who are awarded the scholarships. The Institute of Physics will cover the costs of administrating the award of the scholarships. The Institute of Physics is also working with the Department to provide support to schools to increase take up of A level physics for which a total of £3,900,000 funding has been allocated over the period 2011-14.

Pupils: Assessments

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many errors were made in (a) GCSE and (b) A-level examination papers in each year since 2000.

Nick Gibb: Responsibility for the independent regulation of examinations and qualifications (including GCSEs and A Levels) lies with Ofqual. Comparable figures for uncorrected errors in live examination papers are only available from 2006. The number of errors recorded in (a) GCSE and (b) A level examination papers in England is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Recorded GCSE exam errors Recorded A Level exam errors Total 
			 2006 1 0 1 
			 2007 0 1 1 
			 2008 2 1 3 
			 2009 0 0 0 
			 2010 0 0 0 
			 2011 4 7 11

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in England were eligible for the pupil premium in the 2011-12 school year.

Nick Gibb: Since April 2011, a pupil premium has been provided on the basis of children who are known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), children who are in care and have been continuously looked after for six months and a service premium for children whose parents are serving in the armed forces. In most cases the premiums are allocated down to schools and for 2011-12 are set at £488 per pupil for FSM and looked after children and £200 per pupil for the service child premium. Based on returns from the January 2011 school census, 1,217,560 children were known to be eligible for FSM, 40,560 are eligible for the looked after child element of the premium and 45,070 children are eligible for the service child premium in 2011-12. Full details of the allocations of the pupil premium can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/settlement2012pupilpremium/a0075963/pupil-premium-2011-12

School Leaving: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students in Romford constituency left further education having completed A-levels or equivalent qualifications to enter full-time employment in 2005-06.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold the requested information.

Schools

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many visits he has made to (a) academy secondary schools, (b) academy primary schools, (c) academy special schools, (d) free schools, (e) maintained secondary schools, (f) maintained primary schools and (g) maintained special schools since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 24 October 2011
	Between May 2010 and 22 November, the Secretary of State for Education has visited the following types of schools:
	(a) 14 secondary academies
	(b) five primary academies
	(c) no academy special schools
	(d) two free schools
	(e) 18 maintained secondary schools
	(f) 11 maintained primary schools
	(g) two maintained special schools
	He has also visited three ‘all-through’ academies which offer primary and secondary provision, one independent school and two FE colleges.

Schools: Admissions

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the reasons are for his Department's response to the consultation on the revised School Admissions Code in respect of permitting only academies and free schools to give priority in their admission arrangements to children in receipt of pupil premium; and what account he took of representations made by (a) local authorities, (b) local representative groups, (c) head teachers and teachers, (d) faith organisations, (e) appeals panels, members and clerks and (f) others in reaching that conclusion.

Nick Gibb: The Department consulted extensively from 27 May until 19 August and received 1,337 responses from local authorities, local representative groups, head teachers, faith organisations, appeals panel members and parents. A response to the consultation and revised Schools Admissions and Appeals Codes was published on 2 November, which took account of the views expressed during the consultation. As set out in the departmental response, there was a mixed response to the question on giving academies and free schools freedom to give greater priority to children in receipt of pupil premium in their local admission arrangements. The Department proposed this change to the School Admissions Code as part of its overall policy to break the link between poor pupil attainment and low family income.

Schools: Bullying

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what plans he has to increase resources for organisations that work to return severely bullied students to mainstream institutions;
	(2)  what plans he has to decrease the number of self-absenting pupils who take prolonged school leave due to severe bullying;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of secondary school children who returned to mainstream institutions after taking prolonged absences due to bullying in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answers 25 and 28 November 2011
	Decisions about the approaches used to tackle bullying and support the victims of bullying are best taken locally, by schools and local authorities, and these activities should be funded principally from the Dedicated Schools Grant. Where a child is unable to attend school and is not being home educated, local authorities are required to provide suitable education at school or in alternative provision, the aim of which is usually to return the child to school. This can include education for children who are severely bullied. The Secretary of State for Education has asked Charlie Taylor, his expert adviser on behaviour, to conduct a review of how to improve the quality of alternative provision. The Department does not collect data on absences as a result of bullying.

Schools: Closures

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools closed in each year between 1997 and 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2011
	The following table sets out the numbers of maintained mainstream schools that have closed in each year since 2000. Reliable information prior to 2000 is not available. The table only shows figures for those schools closed and which have not been replaced. It excludes any technical closures, i.e. those schools that as a result of a change of status, character or a merger with another school are technically closed and then are reopened.
	
		
			  School closures 
			 2000 13 
			 2001 26 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 36 
			 2004 54 
			 2005 39 
			 2006 41 
			 2007 45 
			 2008 50 
			 2009 31 
			 2010 28 
			 Total 394

Schools: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of funding for schools in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government have made clear their intention to reform the school funding system. The current funding system is based on historical expenditure and an out of date assessment of need. Our recent consultation on reforming the school funding system looked carefully at how rural schools should be supported. The Department for Education is considering responses to the consultation and discussing options with interested parties, including those who represent rural areas, before we decide how to proceed. We aim to consult on more detailed proposals in the spring.

Secondary Education

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedure secondary schools seeking to provide 16 to 19 education should follow.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained secondary schools can propose to alter the upper age range of a school to add a sixth form. To do so they would be required to follow the five stage statutory process outlined in statutory guidance of consultation, publication, representation, decision and implementation. The guidance can be found on the Department's website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolorganisation/a0075166/other-changes-to-a-school-and-expansions
	Academies can also expand their age range to include a sixth form. They are required to consult locally and submit a business case to the YPLA (Young Peoples Learning Agency). Ministers will then judge each case on its merit taking account of the advice from the YPLA.

Secondary Education: Finance

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the Institute for Fiscal Studies report on trends in education and schools spending for secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Despite having to take some tough decisions to reduce the deficit, the schools' budget is increasing by £3.6 billion in cash over the next four years. This protects per pupil funding levels in cash and includes the pupil premium.
	We also increased free early education for all three and four year olds and extended it to disadvantaged two year olds.

Sixth-form Education: North-east England

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many people aged 16 to 18 from (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Middlesbrough Borough, (c) Redcar and Cleveland Borough, (d) Teesside and (e) the North East were enrolled in (i) sixth form colleges and (ii) school sixth forms to start courses in each academic year since 2008-09;
	(2)  how many people aged 16 to 18 from (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Middlesbrough Borough, (c) Redcar and Cleveland Borough, (d) Teesside and (e) the North East were enrolled in further education colleges to start courses in each academic year since 2008-09.

Tim Loughton: Data on participation in education post-16 are published in a Department for Education (DfE) Statistical First Release (SFR) entitled “Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 Year Olds in England”.
	Information on participation is not available at constituency or borough level. The following tables show the numbers and proportions of the cohort of young people of academic age 16-17 in the north east region and its constituent local authorities participating full-time in maintained schools or academies, sixth form colleges or colleges of further education. As the figures exclude participation in independent schools, part-time education and work-based learning they do not reflect all participation in education of 16-17 year olds.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of 16-17 (1)  year olds participating full-time in education by institution type 
			  End 2008 (numbers) End 2009 (numbers) 
			  Maintained school or academy Sixth form college Other FE Maintained school or academy Sixth form college Other FE 
			 North East 17,400 5,000 23,300 18,100 5,100 23,800 
			 Hartlepool 300 700 700 300 700 700 
			 Middlesbrough 500 700 1,500 500 600 1,500 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 200 1,100 1,500 300 1,100 1,500 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 600 1,100 2,000 700 1,100 2,100 
			 Darlington 200 800 800 200 900 800 
			 Durham 3,700 600 4,700 3,800 700 4,900 
			 Gateshead 1,800 0 1,500 1,900 0 1,400 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,600 0 1,500 2,700 0 1,600 
			 North Tyneside 1,800 0 1,600 2,000 0 1,500 
			 Northumberland 3,800 0 1,600 3,900 0 1,800 
			 South Tyneside 500 0 2,200 600 0 2,200 
			 Sunderland 1,200 0 3,800 1,300 0 3,800 
			 (1) The age of a learner is measured at the beginning of the academic year, 31 August. Notes. 1. Participation figures for 18-year olds are not available disaggregated by local authority. 2. ‘Other FE’ includes all learners in General FE, tertiary and specialist colleges (e.g. agriculture colleges) and FE provision funded by the YPLA delivered in higher education institutions. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Proportion of 16-17 (1)  year olds participating full-time in education by institution type 
			  End 2008 (Percentage of cohort in LA) End 2009 (Percentage of cohort in LA) 
			  Maintained school or academy Sixth form college Other FE Maintained school or academy Sixth form college Other FE 
			 North East 25 7 34 27 8 36 
			 Hartlepool 12 27 25 14 28 29 
			 Middlesbrough 12 17 39 14 16 39 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 4 28 37 7 29 39 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 12 20 36 12 20 40 
			 Darlington 9 31 28 9 36 30 
			 Durham 28 5 35 29 5 38 
			 Gateshead 36 0 30 38 0 29 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 39 0 23 42 0 25 
			 North Tyneside 37 0 32 42 0 32 
			 Northumberland 47 0 20 50 0 23 
			 South Tyneside 13 0 53 15 0 56 
			 Sunderland 16 0 50 17 0 51 
			 (1) The age of a learner is measured at the beginning of the academic year, 31 August. Notes: 1. Participation figures for 18-year olds are not available disaggregated by local authority. 2. ‘Other FE’ includes all learners in General FE, tertiary and specialist colleges (e.g. agriculture colleges) and FE provision funded by the YPLA delivered in higher education Institutions.

Sixth-form Colleges: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on planned reductions in future funding for school sixth forms; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 28 November 2011
	We have received many representations about funding for 16 to 19-year-olds in school sixth forms from a wide audience of interested parties, including letters from students, parents, schools and colleges, as well as from representative organisations.
	In 2011-12, the total funding for 16 to 19-year-olds will be over £7.5 billion, a record level. It means we can look forward to full participation in education and training among 16 and 17-year-olds by 2015. However, we have had to make unit cost savings by bringing school sixth form funding in line with colleges and reducing the requirement for the “Curriculum 2000” entitlement activity.
	We are managing these changes carefully and that is why transitional protection is in place this year to ensure that no sixth form, school or college, sees a funding reduction of more than 3% per student. Transitional protection in some form will continue to apply throughout the spending review period to help all school sixth forms adapt to the financial constraints the sector faces.

Special Educational Needs

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that small rural schools have access to special educational needs services.

Sarah Teather: Rural schools may face particular challenges in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, particularly in responding to ‘low incidence’ needs. However, the statutory duties on schools and local authorities are clear.
	The local authority has an overall duty to secure sufficient schools for providing primary and secondary education in their area and must have particular regard to securing special educational provision for children who have special educational needs (SEN).
	Schools are able to collaborate with each other and with the local authority in order to meet their own duties in relation to SEN and to improve the support available to pupils. This will be particularly important for smaller schools.
	The Achievement for All (AfA) programme has been very successful at raising attainment and aspirations of children and young people with SEN or a disability. Schools with fewer than 500 pupils, including rural schools, can join together to make it easier to participate in the AfA programme. This would allow smaller schools to share the costs of participation.
	Similarly, the current SEN and disability pathfinder programme is testing out the Government's reforms through 20 pathfinders in a range of areas across the country, including rural settings. The learning will be used to inform any future reforms.

Special Educational Needs: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to make it mandatory for local authorities to carry out learning-difficulty assessments for young people with disabilities or learning difficulties before they switch to post-16 providers; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities already have a statutory duty to ensure learning difficulty assessments take place for all young people who had a statement of special educational need at school if they are moving from school into post 16 education or training. This provision was made under the Education Act 1996 (as amended by the ASCL Act) and section 139A of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

Special Educational Needs: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if his Department will take steps to ensure that learning-difficulty assessments carried out by local authorities for students with disabilities or learning difficulties intending to progress to further education are (a) conducted in an efficient manner, (b) completed and (c) form a reliable basis on which to plan support or an appropriate programme of learning; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure learning difficulty assessments take place for all young people who had a statement of special educational need at school if they are moving from school into post 16 education or training. In exercising its functions under this section an authority must have regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Education.
	The statutory guidance makes it clear that those undertaking learning difficulty assessments should have the relevant expertise and a professional responsibility to deliver high quality and consistent assessments.

Teachers: Finance

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what monitoring mechanisms he has put in place to assess the uptake of teacher release funding.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2011
	We have removed from schools the burden of having to fill in long, time-consuming and cumbersome sport survey returns, which was a requirement of the previous Government. Instead, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport will introduce a much lighter-touch system of measurement, focusing specifically on schools' participation in competitive sport as part of the School Games. In addition, there will be an independent impact study of the School Games which will sample trends in schools' participation. The details of these are currently being developed, including the extent to which they assess the release of PE teachers.

Teachers: Finance

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons teacher release funding did not reach schools until September 2011.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 29 November 2011
	The first payment of physical education (PE) teacher release funding was paid to schools, on schedule, at the end of September 2011. The funding is for the academic year 2011/12, which started in September 2011.

Teachers: Pensions

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the National Audit Office report entitled The impact of the 2007-08 changes to public service pensions published in December 2010, whether updated statistical evidence is available on the affordability of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Independent Public Sector Services Commission chaired by Lord Hutton considered current and future costs of public sector pension scheme and concluded the need to review future affordability and sustainability of all public sector schemes.
	Scheme valuations are normally undertaken every three or four years to establish the cost of meeting the scheme's pension commitments.
	The most recent valuation for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme has not been completed because the Government suspended valuations of public service schemes following the interim findings of the Independent Public Sector Services Commission.
	A valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will be completed in the future following scheme reforms.

Teachers: Retirement

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the proportion of the teacher population which is likely to retire in the next 10 years.

Nick Gibb: In November 2010 there were 104,800 full-time equivalent teachers (excluding occasional teachers) aged 50 or over in service in publicly funded schools in England and therefore within 10 years of the normal age of retirement for those teachers who were in pensionable service prior to 1 January 2007. Those teachers who entered pensionable service for the first time on or after 1 January 2007 have a normal age of retirement of 65. This figure represents 24% of the total number of teachers in service. In November 2010 there were 48,100 full-time equivalent regular teachers aged between 45 and 49 in service in publicly funded schools in England and therefore within 10 years of the minimum retirement age of 55 at which point they are eligible for early retirement, with a reduction for early payment.
	These figures are based on school work force data supplied to the November 2010 School Workforce Census.

Unemployment: Young People

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people aged between 16 and 19 were not in education, employment or training in each quarter of (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Tim Loughton: Estimates of the number and proportion of young people aged 16 to 18 who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) are published in the statistical first release (SFR) ‘Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 year olds in England’. This publication contains the Department's best estimate of the NEET rate and is published annually in June:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001011/index.shtml
	Quarterly data on the number and proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET in England are published in the statistical release (SR) ‘NEET Quarterly Brief’. The most recent version was released on 24 November 2011, and includes statistics for every calendar quarter between Quarter 3 2006 and Quarter 3 2011 in the main document, with an additional time-series extending back to Quarter 2 2000 published as “additional Information”. Both are available at the following web-link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d001040/index.shtml

Young People: Disability

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will bring forward legislative proposals in the next parliamentary Session to provide young disabled people with a legal right to a package of support up to the age of 25;
	(2)  whether he will bring forward legislative proposals on special educational needs to include a right to educational support up to the age of 25 for all young people with (a) autism and (b) other disabilities.

Sarah Teather: We are committed to developing a radically different system to support better life outcomes for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities, including those with autism. We want disabled young people to have access to choice and opportunity at al stages of their education, with a range of supported pathways into employment and independent living.
	The special educational needs and disability Green Paper—“Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”—sets out our ambitions for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. One of its central proposals is to introduce a single assessment process and new 'Education, Health and Care Plan' for young people with special educational needs, up to the age of 25, which will bring together the support on which children and their families rely across education, health and social care.
	These proposals have been the subject of extended consultation. We are considering the responses and will be publishing a report by the end of the year with our progress and the next steps. We will consider legislative changes as we develop these proposals further.

Young People: Unemployment

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people aged between 16 and 18 were not in education, employment or training in Warrington South constituency in each academic year since 1997.

Tim Loughton: The official national estimates of the number and proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in England are published by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June. However, these data cannot be disaggregated to parliamentary constituency level because they are in part based on sample data for employment.
	We can estimate the number and proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET at a sub-national level using data collected by local authorities, but the figures are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	The figures for 16 to 18-year-olds who were NEET in each year between 2005-06 and 2010-11, for the Warrington local authority, are shown in the following table; statistics prior to 2005-06 are not available. Note that due to methodological differences, estimates for young people NEET based on local authority data tend to be lower than the official estimates for NEET in the SFR.
	
		
			 Number and proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds NEET (actual age) 
			  Average number NEET in the three months November to January (% of 16-18 year cohort in brackets) 
			  2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Warrington 460 (7.3%) 450 (7.0%) 370 (5.8%) 460 (7.2%) 360 (5.6%) 330 (5.3%) 
			 Notes: 1. Figures for 19-year-olds are not available. 2. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. Source: CCIS

Youth Services: Per Capita Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the per capita expenditure was on provision of activities for young people by each local authority in 2011-12.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 24 November 2011
	Section 251 financial returns showing outturn spend in 2011-12 will be published in January 2013. The amounts individual local authorities have budgeted to spend on services for young people in 2011-12 may be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Local authority planned spend on services for young people in England 2011-12 (1,2,3) . Figures taken from s251 Budget 2011-12 statements 
			 £ 
			   Total services for young people Total services for young people per capita spend 
			 201 City of London 549,243 1,229 
			 202 Camden 9,242,120 585 
			 203 Greenwich 6,822,240 386 
			 204 Hackney 9,964,290 652 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,640,196 164 
			 206 Islington 5,625,988 460 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 5,225,070 477 
			 208 Lambeth 6,348,865 385 
			 209 Lewisham 7,447,636 387 
			 210 Southwark 8,552,349 462 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 10,532,639 647 
			 212 Wandsworth 7,599,030 537 
			 213 Westminster 3,452,150 242 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,475,810 91 
			 302 Barnet 3,499,823 127 
			 303 Bexley 4,065,000 199 
			 304 Brent 5,801,081 319 
			 305 Bromley 2,352,375 93 
			 306 Croydon 7,616,964 256 
			 307 Ealing 3,853,295 176 
			 308 Enfield 5,733,687 233 
			 309 Haringey 2,515,689 166 
			 310 Harrow 3,937,377 210 
			 311 Havering 4,373,038 208 
			 312 Hillingdon 5,078,010 221 
			 313 Hounslow 3,301,080 198 
			 314 Kingston-upon-Thames 2,636,558 198 
			 315 Merton 3,064,949 220 
			 316 Newham 6,558,360 320 
			 317 Redbridge 857,306 36 
		
	
	
		
			 318 Richmond-upon-Thames 3,093,527 226 
			 319 Sutton 2,116,950 128 
			 320 Waltham Forest 2,996,039 170 
			 330 Birmingham 13,097,206 134 
			 331 Coventry 5,659,066 195 
			 332 Dudley 5,120,640 192 
			 333 Sandwell 7,205,200 283 
			 334 Solihull 4,291,907 229 
			 335 Walsall 6,827,567 294 
			 336 Wolverhampton 6,527,090 319 
			 340 Knowsley 2,532,194 183 
			 341 Liverpool 10,583,634 276 
			 342 St Helens 4,314,034 273 
			 343 Sefton 5,302,800 222 
			 344 Wirral 7,773,100 294 
			 350 Bolton 7,489,700 315 
			 351 Bury 2,068,569 129 
			 352 Manchester 4,618,110 112 
			 353 Oldham 6,308,432 308 
			 354 Rochdale 4,297,783 229 
			 355 Salford 5,037,543 268 
			 356 Stockport 5,171,610 219 
			 357 Tameside 4,350,600 230 
			 358 Trafford 4,644,040 265 
			 359 Wigan 6,236,617 238 
			 370 Barnsley 6,605,295 330 
			 371 Doncaster 6,585,850 264 
			 372 Rotherham 2,929,711 131 
			 373 Sheffield 7,670,180 157 
			 380 Bradford 12,423,999 262 
			 381 Calderdale 5,556,593 318 
			 382 Kirklees 9,380,376 255 
			 383 Leeds 16,267,660 236 
			 384 Wakefield 7,593,560 274 
			 390 Gateshead 3,497,245 223 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 4,730,203 184 
			 392 North Tyneside 3,035,080 197 
			 393 South Tyneside 4,621,136 355 
			 394 Sunderland 5,954,874 249 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 148,996 861 
			 800 Bath and NE Somerset 2,159,916 128 
			 801 City of Bristol 8,344,076 247 
			 802 North Somerset 2,221,305 133 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 4,171,000 178 
			 805 Hartlepool 2,483,993 297 
			 806 Middlesbrough 4,820,580 371 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 3,225,878 274 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 4,954,813 284 
			 810 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 5,532,312 234 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 5,475,770 191 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 4,386,100 307 
		
	
	
		
			 813 North Lincolnshire 1,708,457 125 
			 815 North Yorkshire 9,863,343 191 
			 816 York 3,096,030 182 
			 821 Luton 3,367,538 196 
			 822 Bedford Borough 2,081,468 146 
			 823 Central Bedfordshire 2,075,808 97 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 4,572,444 105 
			 826 Milton Keynes 4,448,126 215 
			 830 Derbyshire 14,126,101 219 
			 831 Derby 3,754,487 176 
			 835 Dorset 7,633,300 219 
			 836 Poole 2,130,538 185 
			 837 Bournemouth 3,201,000 239 
			 840 Durham 5,500,630 124 
			 841 Darlington 1,965,762 237 
			 845 East Sussex 6,579,034 152 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 4,082,472 205 
			 850 Hampshire 12,297,900 111 
			 851 Portsmouth 2,693,300 153 
			 852 Southampton 3,741,025 175 
			 855 Leicestershire 7,925,337 138 
			 856 Leicester City 7,660,482 280 
			 857 Rutland 803,600 171 
			 860 Staffordshire 12,383,905 176 
			 861 Stoke 2,534,390 126 
			 865 Wiltshire 6,112,847 148 
			 866 Swindon 2,892,765 177 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 2,195,434 207 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 1,831,660 138 
			 869 West Berkshire 2,896,242 202 
			 870 Reading 2,754,281 218 
			 871 Slough 3,383,396 335 
			 872 Wokingham 1,952,450 130 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 7,664,419 144 
			 874 City of Peterborough 2,781,022 191 
			 876 Halton 4,422,754 426 
			 877 Warrington 1,300,115 78 
			 878 Devon 10,021,370 157 
			 879 City of Plymouth 5,883,090 257 
			 880 Torbay 2,566,290 240 
			 881 Essex 16,419,878 136 
			 882 Southend 2,461,680 185 
			 883 Thurrock 2,105,543 151 
			 884 Herefordshire 2,297,091 156 
			 885 Worcestershire 9,076,864 195 
			 886 Kent 23,670,035 185 
			 887 Medway 4,408,055 188 
			 888 Lancashire 19,504,030 187 
			 889 Blackburn and Darwen 3,003,200 207 
			 890 Blackpool 1,993,664 163 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 15,721,828 241 
			 892 City of Nottingham 7,258,232 259 
			 893 Shropshire 4,152,350 162 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 2,882,827 188 
		
	
	
		
			 895 Cheshire East 3,001,712 100 
			 896 Cheshire West and Chester 3,029,769 108 
			 908 Cornwall 11,441,998 259 
			 909 Cumbria 7,777,000 186 
			 916 Gloucestershire 9,166,388 177 
			 919 Hertfordshire 18,789,563 200 
			 921 Isle of Wight 3,435,814 296 
			 925 Lincolnshire 11,931,437 198 
			 926 Norfolk 4,777,147 69 
			 928 Northamptonshire 6,884,136 116 
			 929 Northumberland 5,602,335 228 
			 931 Oxfordshire 8,794,470 151 
			 933 Somerset 6,959,665 147 
			 935 Suffolk 12,468,944 206 
			 936 Surrey 15,311,824 163 
			 937 Warwickshire 9,185,880 203 
			 938 West Sussex 8,811,512 132 
			  England 883,372,160 200 
			     
			  Minimum per capita — 36 
			  Maximum per capita — 1,229 
			 (1) Data are as reported by LAs in their s251 Budget returns. (2) Total services for young people includes spend on universal services for young people (including youth work, positive activities, Connexions and information, advice and guidance), targeted services for young people (including youth work, positive activities and information, advice and guidance), substance misuse services (Drugs, Alcohol, and Volatile substances), teenage pregnancy services, discretionary awards and student support. (3) Population data used to calculate per capita spend are as at 1 January 2012 (projected), and includes all 13 to 19-year-olds inclusive, as at previous 31 August. Estimates are derived from Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid-year population estimates (to 2010) and mid-2008 based sub-national population projections and internal DfE modelling for 2011 onwards.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

European Development Fund

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage speedier distribution of funds from the European Development Fund.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) monitors spending and results of the European Commission's European Development Fund (EDF) through the EDF Management Committee and the Council's Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Working Group. At the partner country level; DFID meets regularly with the EU Delegations and member states to follow up on progress on EDF implementation, spend and delivery of results.
	In October 2011, DFID achieved a strong EU Council conclusion on the need to improve the efficiency, results and monitoring of the EDF as part of the 2011 EDF Performance Review. We will use upcoming EDF meetings to follow up progress. We are also currently working with the Commission to make sure that the quality, timeliness and results-focus of EDF spending is reflected in the new financial regulations for 2013-20 and not least the implementation of the EDF programmes at the country level.

Kenya: Education

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what his policy is on supporting low-fee private schools and voucher schemes in Kenya;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects of voucher schemes and private schools supported by his Department in Kenya on access to education in that country.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) programme in Kenya supports low-fee private schools. These schools often charge as little as £2 per month. Many of them are in and around urban slums. Families living in these areas often do not have access to state schools, and low-fee private schools offer the only affordable opportunity to educate their children. This year, the DFID programme in Kenya contributed complete sets of textbooks to 250,000 children in 1,100 low-fee private schools across the country.
	The DFID programme in Kenya does not currently support vouchers for education, but does provide cash transfers of around £9 per month to almost 100,000 of Kenya's poorest households containing orphans or other vulnerable children. These cash transfers have proved to be effective in meeting basic needs, including the education and health care of the children in beneficiary households.

HEALTH

Cancer: Ethnic Groups

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the 2010 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, what steps his Department is taking to improve the experience of black and other minority ethnic patients with cancer.

Paul Burstow: The National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) has established the National Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Cancer Voice, a cancer patient advisory panel, to understand the issues facing people who have been affected by cancer from BME communities. The 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey highlighted the variation in the views of patients from BME communities compared to white cancer patients. A number of culturally diverse surveys have been developed to further understand the reasons for the poor perception of care with the aim of working towards improvements.
	Qualitative based research has also been undertaken with a number of trusts that followed up the NCAT 2009-10 culturally sensitive baseline audit; an audit which asked trusts about their policies and services relating to BME communities. This research has been carried out in partnership with Breast Cancer Care, and has been focused on finding where best practice already exists in providing culturally diverse cancer services. A report aimed at commissioners and providers will be available in early 2012.
	The 2010 survey data have been analysed by equality groups. Evidence was found of many differences, including BME patients being more likely to report not receiving understandable answers to their questions and not being given enough care after discharge. These findings, along with many others, have been shared with cancer networks, along with suggestions for action to reduce these differences in reported experience.

Dementia: Diagnosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase GPs' ability to identify dementia sufferers.

Paul Burstow: The Department has been working with strategic health authorities and deaneries to trial a new approach to dementia education and training for general practitioners (GPs) and practice staff. This involves primary care teams coming together to reflect on and self-assess their practice and identify ways in which they can improve care of people with dementia and their carers. More generally, the National Clinical Director for Dementia has also been working closely with the Royal College of GPs on issues relating to dementia education and training.

Health: Children

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Health and Social Care Bill to require joint working between health and education services in respect of the needs of children.

Anne Milton: Health and wellbeing boards will be a forum for the national health service, local authorities and communities to exercise shared leadership in arriving at a joint understanding of local needs, including the needs of local children and a shared strategy to address those needs.
	The director of Children's Services will be a statutory member of the board. The health and wellbeing board will have powers to encourage close working with commissioners of health related services, which could include education services, where these have an effect on health. Clinical commissioning groups must exercise their functions with a view to securing that the provision of health services is integrated with the provision of health related services, which could include education services.

Hepatitis: Health Services

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he expects the NHS to spend on hepatitis C in each year for the next four years.

Anne Milton: Expenditure on services for hepatitis C provided by the national health service is a matter for local NHS commissioners to determine in the light of local needs and priorities.

Hospital Beds: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available for people with (a) mental health needs and (b) neurological conditions in Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust in (i) 2006 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Data are not collected for neurological beds. Information on the average daily number of available beds open overnight for mental illness in 2005-06 and for the latest period is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Period Organisation Available mental illness beds (open overnight) 
			 2005-06 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 691 
			 2011-12 quarter 2 Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust 629 
			 Notes: 1. Information is given for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust which provides mental health services in the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust area. 2. Beds for 2005-06 were collected by ward type and included all beds on the following wards: Mental illness: children: short stay Mental illness: children: long stay Mental illness: elderly: short stay Mental illness: elderly: long stay Mental illness: other ages: secure unit Mental illness: other ages: short stay Mental illness: other ages: long stay 3. Beds for 2011-12 Quarter 2 were collected by consultant speciality and only include beds where the patient is under the care of a consultant and covered the following consultant specialities: 710 adult mental illness 711 child and adolescent psychiatry 712 forensic psychiatry 713 psychotherapy 715 old age psychiatry Source: Department of Health form KH03

Hospitals: Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether food procured by each primary care trust meets the Government's buying standards for food and catering;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible;
	(3)  what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  what proportion of food sourced by each primary care trust was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(5)  what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering.

Paul Burstow: The Department is working closely with its catering supplier on the adoption of the Government Buying Standards (GBS) for Food and Catering Services, as issued, for the first time, in June 2011. The Department can confirm that the majority of the 'mandatory' standards are already being met.
	National health service trusts are not mandated to adopt GBS. However, they are encouraged to adopt the GBS for Food and Catering Services through the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework, as well as through guidance and training materials developed for the NHS on sustainable and low carbon procurement.
	The Department is also working with The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a potential demonstration project supporting pilot NHS organisations in adopting the GBS for Food and Catering Services.
	The Department does not hold information centrally on whether food procured by each primary care trust meets the Government's buying standards for food and catering.
	GBS for Food and Catering Services, includes a 'best practice' requirement that,
	“All eggs, including liquid and powdered eggs, are sourced from systems that do not use conventional cages. If from a caged system, enriched cages are used.”
	The Department, and its arm’s length bodies are required to meet the 'mandatory' level standards under GBS (as per the Greening Government Commitments), and are encouraged to review performance against these standards and assess the potential for adopting 'best practice' standards.
	In respect to liquefied eggs, the Department does not currently procure such products. NHS trusts are encouraged to adopt the GBS for Food and Catering Services through the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework, as well as through guidance and training materials developed for the NHS on sustainable and low carbon procurement.
	The proportion of food sourced by the Department's catering supplier, from United Kingdom food producers since April 2011, is 24%. For NHS Supply Chain national contracts in 2008-09, the overall proportion of indigenous food (i.e. food that can be grown in the UK) that was UK sourced in this period was 64.5%, as reported in the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative report (2010).
	The Department does not hold centrally information on what proportion of food sourced by each primary care trust was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maternity Services: Low Incomes

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Royal College of Midwives and Netmums survey showing that women from lower incomes were denied ante-natal classes and the choice of a birth at home.

Anne Milton: There are many different ways of providing antenatal education from one to one discussions to workshop style groups. All mothers should discuss their birth plan with their midwife or doctor to find the best birth setting for them.
	Midwives, doctors, and nurses encourage pregnant women to attend services early and the latest data shows 92% of women have their health and social care, needs, risks and choices assessed by the 12th week of their pregnancy, which enables good care planning throughout pregnancy, birth and afterwards.
	The Department has recently (October 2011) launched 'Preparing for Birth and Beyond' pack, a new online resource pack developed in partnership with parenting organisations, antenatal educationalists, researchers, practitioners and service leaders, that can help organisations and practitioners run antenatal education classes tailored for their communities. The pack is based on a refreshed approach to antenatal education, following a systematic review of the evidence and views of the professionals, what parents want and what is available. It still covers preparation for birth, but also emphasises the developing child, the emotional transition to parenthood and family relationships and recognises the need to include fathers and other partners in groups and activities.

Medicine: Wholesale Trade

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to (a) review and (b) reduce the number of wholesaler dealer licences for medicinal products.

Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) an executive agency of the Department, regulates manufacturers and wholesale dealers of medicinal products for human use in the United Kingdom on behalf of the UK Licensing Authority (LA).
	The MHRA has not reviewed the number of authorised wholesale dealers in the UK or taken steps to reduce the number of such traders.
	The MHRA has a legal responsibility to assess all applications made for a wholesale dealers licence and will grant a wholesale dealer's licence where the applicant meets UK provisions and community obligations for the safe storage and distribution of medicinal products in the UK or to revoke a granted licence for non compliance.

Medicine: Wholesale Trade

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the (a) separation of pharmaceutical wholesaling from dispensing activities within pharmacies and (b) implementation of recommendation 6 of the EU High-Level Pharmaceutical Forum G10.

Paul Burstow: Ministers and departmental officials meet regularly with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to discuss a range of policy issues.
	Pharmacies are currently exempt from having to hold a wholesale dealer's licence by virtue of Section 10(7) of the Medicines Act 1968. In October 2011 the MHRA brought forward proposals for the repeal of section 10(7), on the basis that it conflicts with European Union legislation. The proposed change would take place as part of a consolidation of existing medicines legislation, currently being consulted upon by the MHRA. The repeal of 10(7) will require that, in future, any pharmacy that wishes to engage in commercial wholesale dealing activity must hold a wholesale dealer's licence.
	In implementing Recommendation 6 from the EU High-Level Pharmaceutical Forum G10, the MHRA has concentrated on working with the UK's Health Technology Assessment body—the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence—to provide joint scientific advice to companies during the drug development process.

Palliative Care: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 352W, on palliative care, what steps he has taken to ensure that hospitals receive adequate funding for palliative care in proportion to the amount of such care provided.

Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of commissioners to decide how much money is allocated for specific services at a local level.
	The Government have made a commitment to develop a per-patient funding system for palliative care. The independent Palliative Care Funding Review, which we set up in summer 2010, was asked to make recommendations on how we can develop a per-patient funding system that encourages more community-based care, supports people to choose from whom they receive the care they need; and that will be fair to all organisations involved.
	The review has come up with a range of significant proposals which we now need to consider in detail. This work will be informed by local palliative care funding pilots which will collect a range of data to help test the review's recommendations. The call for expressions of interest in being a pilot site was published on 28 November 2011 and the pilots will be established from April 2012. The aim is have to have a new funding system in place by 2015.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Vaccination

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the availability of the Palivizumab vaccine; and which primary care trusts prescribe respiratory syncytial virus vaccinations of Palivizumab in cases of chronic chest infections in children.

Anne Milton: Guidance issued by the Department on the use and sourcing of Palivizumab is in the online Respiratory Syncytial Virus chapter of ‘Immunisation against infectious disease’ (also known as ‘the Green Book’) available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_130131.pdf
	A copy of this has been placed in the Library.
	The NHS Prescription Services indicated that the following primary care trusts (PCTs) in England prescribed Palivizumab Vaccine in the period October 2010 to September 2011:
	PCT Devon;
	PCT East Riding of Yorkshire;
	PCT Gloucestershire;
	PCT Havering;
	PCT Kensington and Chelsea;
	PCT Swindon; and
	PCT Wiltshire.
	NHS Prescription Services does not capture patient data and therefore can not provide any information on the age of the patient or the medical condition the patient was being treated for.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Lidington: The proportion of food sourced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK procured from UK food producers is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 2010-11 25 
			 April 2011 to date 25 
		
	
	“Produced in the UK” is defined as of guaranteed UK provenance which can be fully traced back to the source, ie food that has been grown and harvested or born, bred and slaughtered in the UK. Therefore we have not included any products that, even though may have been produced or manufactured in the UK, are of mixed origin.
	In addition we can confirm the following:
	100% of our fresh beef is UK sourced
	100%of our fresh pork joints is UK sourced
	100% of fresh milk is both UK sourced and Red Tractor
	100% of shell eggs are UK sourced and Lion marked
	All of our potatoes and root vegetables are sourced from UK when in season
	The data for 2010-11 relating to this request and other food related targets are published on the FCO website.
	It would incur disproportionate cost to source this information from our network of posts and our public bodies as this information is held locally.

Departmental Publications

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) leaflets, (b) posters and (c) reports his Department has published since May 2010; how much each cost; and which company (i) published and (ii) designed each.

David Lidington: Finances within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are devolved to individual directorates in the UK and to our network of posts overseas. This information is not held centrally in the form requested and is available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training staff of his Department are given in the use of privacy screen panels to protect sensitive data.

David Lidington: Privacy filters are available to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff and their use is promoted to mitigate the risk of “shoulder surfing”. The FCO takes information security very seriously and uses a variety of measures to meet the risks posed from working remotely, in accordance with mandatory requirements set out in the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework. FCO staff are required to adhere to the relevant standard of operating procedures (SOPs) for the ICT equipment they have been authorised to use, including mobility devices. Staff are trained in all aspects of data handling and security in a variety of ways including: annual completion of mandatory ‘protecting information’ training; induction courses; regular briefing and other training events; articles on departmental intranet sites; and ad hoc reminders as and when considered necessary.

Egypt: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to help ensure a smooth transition to civilian democratic rule following the parliamentary elections in Egypt on 28 November 2011.

Alistair Burt: The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has committed to a transition to a civilian-led democracy. This transition process is owned by the Egyptian people and it is not for the UK to dictate who or what should be acceptable to them. However, there has been sustained high-level UK Government engagement in support of the democratic transition process in Egypt, including visits by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Our embassy in Cairo is in close contact with Egyptian parties to the transition and is helping to develop initiatives in support of that process under the Arab Partnership.

Egypt: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on responses to street protests in relation to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in regular contact with his counterparts, especially those in the MENA region, about Egypt. He will discuss the situation in Egypt with his EU counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 30 November to 1 December.
	The Foreign Secretary made statements on 23 and 27 November in which he has set out the Government’s views on the situation in Egypt, including deep concern about the unacceptable violence and loss of life which has taken place in Tahrir square and other parts of Egypt, and the UK’s consistent call for a rapid, clear transition to civilian-led democratic rule and elections that are free, fair, credible and secure. He discussed the situation and the forthcoming elections with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 24 November.

Egypt: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to support the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to supporting the process of political transition in Egypt, including the parliamentary elections. The Carter Centre is one of the few international organisations allowed to observe the elections. We provided early financial and public support to the Carter Centre monitoring mission. This helped encourage other countries to contribute the finances the centre needed to observe the elections. We are supporting the Thomson Reuters Foundation and BBC World Service Trust to facilitate impartial electoral coverage, working with both independent and state media. We are also working to provide peer support to nascent political parties and parliamentarians, in particular female candidates.

Egypt: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK electoral observers will be present at the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to supporting the process of political transition in Egypt, including the parliamentary elections. The Carter Centre is one of the few international civil society organisations allowed to observe these elections, and we are providing them with support. The Egyptian authorities have informed our ambassador in Cairo that diplomats and foreign media could have limited access to polling stations. Our embassy in Cairo will take part in witnessing the election process informally, in line with these conditions.

Heritage Oil

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 47W, on Heritage Oil, whether any civil servants were present when he was approached by a representative of Heritage Oil in March 2011.

David Lidington: No. This was not an official event.

Heritage Oil

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 47W, on Heritage Oil, what representations he received from Heritage Oil after he was approached by a representative of Heritage Oil in March 2011.

David Lidington: holding answer 29 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs received one letter from Mr Christian Sweeting, Director of London and Central European Investments.

Heritage Oil

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 47W, on Heritage Oil, who approached him to make representations on behalf of Heritage Oil in March 2011.

David Lidington: holding answer 29 November 2011
	The information is as follows:
	Mr Christian Sweeting, Director of London and Central European Investments Ltd.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's letters of 20 May 2011, 11 July 2011, 4 August 2011, 29 August 2011 and 13 September 2011 concerning a constituent, James Rieley.

David Lidington: I am sorry for the delay in the hon. Member receiving a reply. The letter was transferred to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who have assured me that it is being treated as a priority.

Syria: Loans

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to press for the prohibition of further disbursements of European Investment Bank loans to Syria.

Alistair Burt: The UK Government were at the forefront of action approved by the EU Foreign Affairs Committee on 14 November 2011 to stop further disbursements of European Investment Bank loans to Syria. This is just one of a series of EU measures against the Syria regime aimed at stopping the violence. In nine rounds of sanctions the EU has subjected a total of 74 individuals and 19 entities to asset freezes and travel bans targeted against those supporting or benefitting from the regime and those associated with them. We are already working on further wide ranging measures for the December Foreign Affairs Council.

Syria: Politics and Government

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to secure international agreement on the draft UN Security Council Resolution on Syria.

Alistair Burt: The UK Government have been at the forefront of action on Syria in the UN. On 4 October the UK, together with France, Germany and Portugal tabled a draft resolution at the UN Security Council condemning the Syrian regime's use of force, calling for an end to violence, and threatening sanctions if the situation continued. It was vetoed by Russia and China, a decision that has been confirmed as misguided by everything that has happened in Syria subsequently.
	On 22 November a UK, German and French resolution at the UN General Assembly Third Committee on the human rights situation in Syria, and co-sponsored by 62 countries, was passed with 122 votes in favour. The resolution called on the Syrian Government to end violence and implement the Arab League's plan of action without delay. On 29 November the UN Human Rights Council agreed to hold a Special Session on the human rights situation in Syria on 2 December.
	We continue to discuss further action at the UN, including a Security Council resolution, with key international partners, particularly those in the region.

USA: Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of all flights with a detainee on board that landed on Diego Garcia in March 2004; for which such flights the US administration sought permission from the UK to land on Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: No flights with a detainee on board landed on Diego Garcia in March 2004.
	Aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territories) in 2002, the US Government has confirmed that there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee, on board since 11 September 2001.

USA: Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many flights by US intelligence services with a detainee on board have landed in (a) the UK, (b) British Overseas Territories and (c) Crown dependencies since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: There have been two cases, in January and September 2002, in which flights carrying a detainee had landed and refuelled on Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territories. The UK was informed of these flights by the US in February 2008, following which the then Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for South Shields (David Miliband), made a statement to Parliament. The US informed us that these flights refuelled briefly on Diego Garcia and that the detainees did not leave the plane.
	Aside from the two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia in 2002, the US Government has confirmed that there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001.

USA: Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with their US counterparts on use of airports in the UK, British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies by flights by US intelligence services with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001, other than two cases relating to Diego Garcia in 2002; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: My officials hold regular talks with the US Government on issues relating to relevant British Overseas Territories. The most recent talks were held in Washington in September 2011. During these talks the US confirmed that there have been no other instances in which US intelligence flights landed in the UK, our Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies, with a detainee on board since 11 September 2001.

USA: Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have authorised the involvement of the Secret Intelligence Service in a rendition operation since May 2010; if so on how many occasions such authorisation has been given; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: holding answer 29 November 2011
	It is the policy of successive HM Governments not to comment on security and intelligence matters.
	The Government policy on rendition is absolutely clear: we do not render people in breach of our legal obligations. Should another state wish to transfer an individual through our territory or airspace, we would consider all the circumstances and only grant permission if we were satisfied that it would accord with our domestic law and international obligations.
	We unreservedly condemn any practice of “extraordinary rendition” to torture. We will not co-operate in any transfer of an individual where we believe there is a real risk of torture to the individual concerned. The Government's clear policy is not to participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment for any purpose. The coalition agreement made absolutely clear that “we will never condone the use of torture”.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Audit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many internal audits have taken place (a) in his Department and (b) in the non-departmental bodies for which his Department is responsible in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Within the Department and its executive and tribunal non-departmental public bodies, the number of reports issued by their internal audit service, excluding ad hoc advisory work, in the 12-month period ended 31 October 2011 was:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service) 185 
			 Health and Safety Executive (including Health and Safety Laboratory) 31 
			 Remploy Ltd 29 
			 National Employment Savings Trust Corporation 14 
			 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission 13 
			 The Pensions Regulator 8 
			 Independent Living Fund 7 
		
	
	
		
			 The Pensions Ombudsman and Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman 6 
			 The Pensions Advisory Service 2

Disability Living Allowance

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he proposes that the disability living allowance will be replaced by personal independence payments for children.

Maria Miller: Personal independence payment will not apply to new or existing claims for children when it is introduced in 2013. We are clear that before we apply personal independence payment to children, we will develop a specific assessment to ensure that the needs of children with long-term health conditions or impairments are properly considered. We will build on the experience of developing and implementing the assessment for claimants of working age to inform our decisions about the future arrangements for children. We will also want to take full account of the Department of Education's work on special educational needs and disability including proposals for a single assessment and to design support around disabled children's aspirations.
	We have made clear that we will consult before taking any decisions on extending personal independence payment to children.

Employment and Support Allowance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of reassessing those on contributory employment and support allowance in the Work Related Activity Group as they come to the end of the 12 month time-limit to determine if they qualify for the Support Group.

Chris Grayling: The impacts of the proposal to time limit contributory employment and support allowance (ESA) to one year for those in the Work Related Activity Group are set out in the impact assessment found at the following link:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-time-limit-wr2011-ia-revised-apr2011.pdf
	The status of a claimant's ESA claim will not change as a result of the application of a 12-month time limit. Therefore, no estimates of the cost of reassessing those on contributory ESA in the Work Related Activity Group as they come to the end of the 12-month time limit have been undertaken.

Employment and Support Allowance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of how many people subject to a time limit in the Work-Related Activity Group of contributory employment and support allowance will have a long-term degenerative condition.

Chris Grayling: The impacts of the proposal to time limit contributory employment and support allowance (ESA) to one year for those in the Work Related Activity Group are set out in the impact assessment found at the following link:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-time-limit-wr2011-ia-revised-apr2011.pdf
	However, estimates of the numbers affected by time limiting have been modelled at a national level and cannot be reliably broken down for particular groups.
	In addition, the term degenerative condition is a general one which may apply to any condition that leads to gradual deterioration. This can encompass a wide variety of conditions as diverse as neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal conditions and cancer. Therefore we are unable to give an indication of how many people with degenerative conditions may be affected by the time limit.

Employment and Support Allowance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the (a) mean and (b) median duration that a person in receipt of contributory employment and support allowance spends in the work-related activity group.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Contributions based employment support allowance claimants in the work related activity group, by mean and median durations —May 2011 
			  Weeks 
			 Mean 73 
			 Median 72 
		
	
	
		
			 Durations by band Number of  c laimants 
			 All durations 102,010 
			 Up to three months 1,130 
			 Three months up to six months 6,780 
			 Six months up to one year 24,130 
			 One year and up to two years 47,210 
			 Two years and up to five years 22,760 
			 Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. Mean and medians are rounded to the nearest week. 2. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 3. Phase of ESA claim/The phase is derived from payment details held on the source system. 4. Payment type/group is derived from payment details held on the source system. Figures will include a small number of claimants entitled to both the contributory and income. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% based categories.

Employment Schemes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times sanctions have been recommended by providers of work programmes in the last year; and how many times sanctions have been imposed on claimants in the last year.

Chris Grayling: Data on Work programme sanctions are not currently available but will be released in spring 2012, alongside other Work programme statistics.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what proportion of income received by households affected by the household benefit cap is accounted for by (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in (i) each region of England, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what proportion of income received by households affected by the household benefit cap with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children and (d) four children or more in (i) each English region, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland is accounted for by (A) housing benefit and (B) council tax benefit.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for areas smaller than the overall impacts for Great Britain.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of income received by households in each band of housing tenure affected by the household benefit cap is accounted for by (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for different categories of tenure type.

Jobseeker’s Allowance: Young People

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds starting an apprenticeship claimed jobseeker's allowance in the month prior to commencing their apprenticeship in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
	Claimants leaving jobseeker's allowance are not required to inform the Department of their destinations and hence the information that is collected is incomplete.
	DWP analysts have been investigating the scope for producing regular statistics on benefit destinations, as well as improving consistency of use of this data across the analytical community. The destinations statistics have not been used in the public domain before, mainly because of gaps in coverage and so are considered not robust enough for external use.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's letters of 24 August 2011 and 4 October 2011 concerning a constituent, Sarah Culbertson.

Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus replied to the hon. Member on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 6 September 2011. I apologise that no action was taken to clarify this when the hon. Member wrote again in October.

Poverty

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in poverty were (a) under the age of 16, (b) between the ages of 16 and 30, (c) between the ages of 31 and 60 and (d) over the age of 60 in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: Estimates of the number and proportion of individuals living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
	Statistics covering 2009-10 are the most recent available.
	The following table shows the number of individuals, by age band, living in households with less than 60% of contemporary median equivalised disposable household income, before and after housing costs.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of individuals living in poverty by age band, before and after housing costs, United Kingdom, 2009-10 
			  Number of individuals (million) 
			 Age group Before housing costs After housing costs Population 
			 Under the age of 16 2.2 3.3 11.4 
			 Between the ages of 16 and 30 2.2 3.3 12.3 
			 Between the ages of 31 and 60 3.6 4.8 24.3 
			 Over the age of 60 2.4 2.0 12.6 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and: private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a before housing costs and an after housing costs basis. For before housing costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 6. Numbers of individuals have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. 7. Poverty has been defined as: Relative low income: households with equivalised household incomes below 60% of contemporary median household income, before or after housing costs. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2009-10

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants have ceased receiving benefit as a result of information supplied to his Department by the general public in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many couples receiving income replacement benefits with one member of working age and one eligible for Pension Credit have an entitlement which includes the carer premium or addition; and what proportion of all such couples this represents.

Chris Grayling: The information available is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Couples in receipt of income related benefits as at May 2011 where one member is under and the other age 60 or over 
			  Total couples Total couples in receipt of carer premium Percentage of couples in receipt with carer premium 
			 Jobseeker's allowance (income based) 2,900 (1)100 (1)2.8 
			 Income support 5,900 900 15.2 
			 Pension credit 92,000 25,300 27.5 
			 (1) Figures of less than 500 (and the resulting %) are based on very few sample cases and should be used as a guide only. Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred, percentages to one decimal place. 2. The figures assume that pension credit is available when one partner reaches age 60. However, the qualifying age for pension credit is increasing in line with the increase in women's state pension age. At February 2011 the qualifying age for pension credit was between 60 and four months and 60 and five months. Current data do not allow analysis that takes account of the increase in qualifying age. 3. Jobseeker's allowance is payable until state pension age. Income support is payable until a person reaches the pension credit qualifying age. 4. Data are not available for partners of employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit claimants. 5. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources. The proportions from the 5% sample data have been used and applied to the overall 100% total for the benefit to determine the total number of couples. 6. Figures are not available for couples who may be entitled to this support, but do not claim it. Source: Information, Governance and Security Directorate, 5% samples, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly loss of income would be for couples currently receiving income replacement benefits, with one member of working age and one eligible for pension credit, under proposals introduced by schedule 2, paragraph 64 of the Welfare Reform Bill.

Chris Grayling: The Government believe that all people of working age who can work should be expected to do so and that it is not right to continue the current position where pension credit can go to households which contain a person of working age without that person having to meet any work-related requirements. The universal credit approach provides financial support to such couples, whilst giving the working-age member of the couple access to support in finding work.
	We have already acknowledged that it will be important not to undermine the stability and outcomes for existing pension credit customers, so the change will not apply to couples already in receipt of pension credit. As a result, there will be no loss for any couples who are already currently receiving income replacement benefits where one member is of working age and one is eligible for pension credit as a result of proposals introduced by schedule 2, paragraph 64 of the Welfare Reform Bill.

Unemployment: Young People

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely level of youth unemployment in each of the next five years.

Chris Grayling: The latest forecast from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, published on 29 November 2011, is for unemployment to rise from its current 8.3% of the labour force to 8.7% in the final quarter of 2012. It is then forecast to fall to 8.4% in the final quarter of 2013, 7.8% in the same period in 2014, 6.8% in 2015 and 5.9% in 2016. There is no separate forecast for youth unemployment but this would be expected to follow a broadly similar trend. The Government are investing in policies to support young people to remain active in their job search and help them to engage in real work with employers. This includes a new Youth Contract worth nearly £1 billion. The contract will provide more intensive support for all 18 to 24-year-olds and builds on that already available through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme.

Work Capability Assessment

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the recommendations on refining the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors used in the work capability assessment as submitted to his Department by the independent reviewer Professor Malcolm Harrington in April 2011.

Chris Grayling: As my reply to the hon. Member of 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 765W set out, the Department currently have no plans to formally publish the report submitted to the Department regarding the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors but I have placed a copy of the report in the House Library for Members. We are working with Professor Harrington and the charities that produced the report to review the questionnaire completed by claimants (the ESA50) and to consider building the evidence base around the current and proposed descriptors.

Work Capability Assessment

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current average waiting time is for a work capability assessment in Wales.

Chris Grayling: The average actual clearance time (AACT) for a work capability assessment (WCA) in Wales at the end of October 2011 is 67.3 days
	This is the average time from receipt of the referral from the Department to Atos Healthcare through to the medical assessment report being completed and returned to the Department.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a risk assessment of the failure or withdrawal of a Work programme prime provider; and if he will place a copy of the outcomes of any such assessment in the Library.

Chris Grayling: All providers were required to demonstrate that they had the capacity to deliver the Work programme at the bidding stage. In addition, there are various mechanisms in place enabling the Department to be forewarned about the potential failure or withdrawal of providers, allowing the Department to put contingency arrangements in place before service delivery is affected. Individual provider assessments include commercially sensitive information that the Department cannot publish.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider the merits of making the new enterprise allowance available to people on the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: The new enterprise allowance is available to claimants from six months into their benefit claim and is specifically focused on individuals who wish to start their own business.
	There are no plans to make the new enterprise allowance available to people on the Work programme. We believe that Work programme providers are best placed to design back to work support and so have allowed them the freedom to do what they believe is best for the individual, which can include helping participants to set up in business.

Work Programme

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Work programme prime contractors are required to set aside funds to work with community and voluntary sector sub-contractors.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not specify the commercial arrangements between Work programme prime providers and their subcontractors, other than to require that prime providers follow the Merlin Standard which promotes fair treatment and excellence in supply chain management.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Regulation

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce the level of administrative demands placed by Government on small businesses.

Mark Prisk: As part of our wider commitment to free up businesses by cutting red tape, we have announced a moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses and start-ups until April 2014. We are also looking at how we can reduce the existing regulatory burden by inviting everyone, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to identify unnecessarily burdensome regulation through the Red Tape Challenge. In addition, we are consulting on proposals to give more SMEs and subsidiary companies the ability to make a commercial decision about whether or not to have an audit—which we estimate would save them around £200 million; and through our proposed programme of reviews of regulatory bodies, we will seek to ensure that arrangements for enforcing legal requirements demands are proportionate for the business, fit for purpose and appropriately risk-based.

Debts

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals to amend part 5 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 prior to implementation;
	(2)  what plans he has to give effect to part 5 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

Edward Davey: Chapter 3 of part 5 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (debt relief orders) was implemented in England and Wales on 6 April 2009. We launched a Call for Evidence on personal insolvency and consumer credit in October 2010, and in the light of the response, we are now taking forward various initiatives on debt management. We will be considering whether to amend or implement the remaining provisions in part 5 of the Act in due course in the light of developments in this area.

Higher Education: Admissions

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications have been submitted by residents of (a) Nottingham East constituency, (b) Nottingham City, (c) Nottinghamshire (excluding Nottingham City) and (d) the East Midlands in the 2011-12 admissions cycle to date; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle.

David Willetts: holding answer 29 November 2011
	The latest information is in the tables and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
	UCAS have stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of 15 October. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 January.
	
		
			 All applicants to UCAS as at 21 November by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (1) 2011-12 (2) 
			 Nottingham East constituency 179 169 
			 Nottingham City 801 718 
			 Nottinghamshire (excl Nottingham City) 1,620 1,281 
			 The East Midlands 11,619 9,288 
		
	
	
		
			 (1) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 On time applicants to courses with a 15 October deadline (1)  by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (2) 2011-12 (3) 
			 Nottingham East constituency 45 41 
			 Nottingham City 184 165 
			 Nottinghamshire (excl Nottingham City) 333 375 
			 The East Midlands 2,289 2,245 
			 (1) These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013.

Higher Education: Admissions

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents of (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) the Borough of Middlesbrough, (c) the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland, (d) the Tees Valley and (e) the North East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 21 November 2011; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle.

David Willetts: The latest information is in the following tables and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
	UCAS have stated that year-on-year changes for all courses at this early stage in the cycle are often different from the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The second table includes only those applicants who applied to courses with a deadline of October 15. The main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is January 15.
	
		
			 All applicants to UCAS as at November 21 by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (1) 2011-12 (2) 
			 Middlesbrough south and east Cleveland constituency 268 207 
			 The borough of Middlesbrough 180 120 
			 The borough of Redcar and Cleveland 228 197 
			 The Tees Valley 1,792 1,292 
			 The North East 5,392 4,237 
			 (1) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 On time applicants to courses with an October 15 deadline (1)  by parliamentary constituency/region 
			  Application cycle 
			 Area of domicile 2010-11 (2) 2011-12 (3) 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency 35 33 
			 The borough of Middlesbrough 23 18 
		
	
	
		
			 The borough of Redcar and Cleveland 21 23 
			 The Tees Valley 254 227 
			 The North East 1,131 1,073 
			 (1) These are courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and courses at Oxbridge. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. 
		
	
	In my answer to the hon. Member's parliamentary question (77543) tabled on 31 October and answered on 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 109W, the figures for the Tees Valley did not include applicants from Middlesbrough south and east Cleveland constituency. The figures for the Tees Valley should have been 484 in 2010-11 and 390 in 2011-12 (not 410 and 322 respectively).

Higher Education: Apprentices

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices have been taken on by universities in the last three years for which information is available.

John Hayes: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Information on the number of apprentices that have been taken on by universities as staff members is not available.
	Information on employment in the broader education sector is provided in the following table which shows the total number of apprenticeship programme starts in the education and training sector subject area in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10, the latest year for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Apprenticeship starts in the education and training sector subject area, 2007 / 08 to 2009 / 10 
			  2007 / 08 2008 / 09 2009 / 10 
			 Apprenticeship starts 1,160 860 4,000 
			 Notes: All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Information on the number of apprentices who have progressed to university-level studies is available from Apprentice Progression Tracking Research.
	For the 2005/06 cohort of Level 3 apprentices, new data show 13% progressed to higher education or Level 4 by 2008/09, This includes higher education in further education institutions and Level 4 in higher education and further education. Updated findings will be available in April 2012.
	Source:
	Apprentice Progression Tracking Research Project Report: Longitudinal Tracking of Advanced Level Apprentice Cohorts Progressing into Higher Education 2005/06 to 2009/10 by Sharon Smith and Hugh Joslin, July 2011

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding over £100,000 his Department's Knowledge and Innovation Directorate allocated to (a) voluntary sector, (b) charities and (c) other third sector organisations in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Assistance to the Russian Federation has been provided through the European Space Agency (ESA) using capabilities partially supported by the UK as a member of ESA. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has not offered help directly.